SpecMagic beat Stormers brutes
MATCH REPORT: Sevens sensation Rosko Specman scored a hat-trick as the Cheetahs came from behind, twice, to beat the Stormers 34-33 in their first match at their new home ground – the Cape Town Stadium.
Despite their obvious forward dominance – which even earned the Stormers a penalty try – the Cheetahs outscored their hosts by four tries to three in an entertaining outing.
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The visitors were first to score through a move in the front of an attacking line-out, which saw hooker Wilmar Arnoldi crash over in the corner.
It did not take the Stormers long to respond with a try that was born from a stolen line-out in their own 22. The ball was worked out wide to wing Edwill van der Merwe who steamrolled one defender, beat a few more on the outside and then chipped into the 22 where it was regathered and flung out to fullback Tristan Leyds, who cruised over for a sensational try.
The visitors were back in front with an individual effort from Rosko Specman, but the Stormers then took control of the match with a second try from wing Leolin Zas and four consecutive penalties from flyhalf Kade Wolhuter.
Two of them came off the back of a dominant Stormers scrum, with Wolhuter showing impressive range in the windy conditions to convert from his own half.
The Cheetahs had the final say in the first half with a second Specman try, but it was the Stormers who took a 26-21 lead into the break.
Specman scored his hat-trick try early in the second half, which put the Cheetahs back in front, but the Stormers’ superior scrum had them in the lead again through a penalty try awarded in front of the poles.
The Cheetahs kicked their first penalty of the match in the 55th minute and they followed that up with another 10 minutes from the end, which sealed the narrow win for them.
Man of the match: Rookie flyhalf Kade Wolhuter kicked four penalties and a two conversions in an impressive debut performance, while the Stormers forwards – especially the scrum (for at least the first hour) and maul – laid a sound platform. However, there is only one name for this award – SpecMagic. Rosko Specman with his hat-trick showed just how valuable he is for the Cheetahs.
The scorers
For the Stormers
Tries: Leyds, Zas, Penalty try
Cons: Wolhuter 2, penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Wolhuter 4
For the Cheetahs
Tries: Arnoldi, Specman 3
Cons: Steyn 4
Pens: Steyn 2
Teams
Stormers: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Johan du Toit, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 George Cronje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi , 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Conraad van Vuuren, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Dries Swanepoel, 23 Rhyno Smith.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Divan Uys, Dylan November
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
