Lyon routs hapless Cheetahs
MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs’ honeymoon in Europe is over.
They were knocked out of the Challenge Cup unceremoniously by a rampant Lyon Olympique Universitaire, who won 68-21 at Matmut Stadium de Gerland on Saturday.
The ambitious French outfit outscored the South African visitors by 10 tries to three in a one-sided affair that showed exactly how far the Bloemfontein team has fallen off the pace.
If there was one positive from an otherwise hardscrabble performance they showed some heart – scoring a couple of consolation tries in the final quarter.
For Lyon, the bonus-point win sealed second place in Pool One and a spot in the Round Of 16.
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* The article continues below …
The Cheetahs got off to a bright start, as Daniel Maartens opened the scoring for Cheetahs.
However, after that, it was one-way traffic.
Two tries in the first 20 minutes from Davit Niniashvili and Dylan Cretin put Lyon ahead, before Josiah Maraku secured the bonus point with his two tries, and Martin Page-Relo got their fifth to make it 38-7 at the break.
Game over for the men from Bloemfontein
Italian international Monty Ioane started the second-half rout in the 47th minute, with further tries by Léo Berdeu (two), Alban Roussel and Camille Chat completing the rout.
Prince Nkabinde scored an intercept try in the 65th minute and Neels Volschenk went over in the 74th minute.
However, the game was long over as a contest and the Cheetahs left France a demoralised team.
The scorers
For Lyon Olympique Universitaire
Tries: Niniashvili, Cretin, Maraku 2, Page-Relo, Ioane, Berdeu 2, Roussel, Chat
Cons: Berdeu 9
For Cheetahs
Tries: Maartens, Nkabinde, Neels Volschenk
Cons: Jasper 3
Teams
Lyon Olympique Universitaire: 15 Davit Niniashvili, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Theo Millet, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Léo Berdeu, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Liam Allen, 7 Beka Saginadze (captain), 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Alban Roussel, 4 Theo William, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Lyan Pakihivatau.
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Hamza Kaabeche, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Félix Lambey, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Baptiste Couilloud, 22 Semi Radradra, 23 Thibaut Regard.
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 CJ Coetzee, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Franco Smith, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Jandre Nel, 23 Litha Nkula.
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant referees: Harry Walbaum (England), Gareth Holsgrove (England)
TMO: Daniel Jones (England)
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