Free State run Falcons ragged
Sporting black arm bands as a sign of respect to Jean-Jireh Yamwimbu - who sadly passed away in the week leading up to the tournament - the Falcons took the game to the more-fancied Free State side, despite a shaky start. However, poor defence in the closing stages of the match saw them leak tries.
As expected, Free State made the perfect start with a well-worked team try that saw Janco van Heyningen sprint down the touchline to dot down in the corner. Rikus Pretorius failed to add the extras though as Free State led 5-0 after two minutes.
The lead was doubled in the fifth minute when David Kriel showed what he can do to grab his side's second try. Once again, the try went unconverted as Free State led 10-0. Pretorius found his range in the 10th minute when he slotted a 30 metre penalty to hand Free State a 13-0 lead.
The Falcons began to fling the ball around and their reward came in the 13th minute when a quickly-taken penalty by Ginter Smuts saw the scrumhalf muscle his over. He added the conversion as well to reduce the deficit to 7-13.
Free State hit back to restore their 11-point lead when Pretorius used the space he was given to score in the corner. He once again missed the conversion as Free State led 18-7 after 17 minutes. The Falcons then hit back with two tries in as many minutes to take the lead.
Ruben Beytell broke a tackle inside Free State's 22 to score under the posts and grabbed a second when he rounded off a free flowing team effort which saw them create an overlap on the outside. Smuts managed to convert one try to ensure a 19-18 lead after 21 minutes.
Both sides went flat out in the final 10 minutes and found reward within three minutes of each other. The Falcons extended their lead to 26-18 when Tumiso Linake rounded off a team effort. Smuts slotted a tricky conversion to ensure the eight-point lead.
Free State reduced that deficit to three points when Rallston Dreyer got his name onto the scoresheet. Unfortunately, Pretorius failed with the conversion attempt as the Flacons led 26-23 at the break.
The Bloemfontein men grabbed the first points of the second half with a Keaton Swart try in the 38th minute. Mario Vieira took over the kicking duties and added the conversion to ensure a 30-26 lead.
The lead grew by a converted try in the 42nd minute when Juan Venter found some space to canter over. Vieira ensured the seven points with another successful conversion. Venter went from hero to villain two minutes later when he was sent to the sin bin.
The Falcons enjoyed a lengthy spell of possession and camped inside Free State's half but a breakaway Kagiso Marumo try all but ended the Falcons' hopes of a late comeback. Vieira's conversion ensured a 44-26 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the match.
There was still time for Free State to grab their ninth try when Thian du Randt easily fended off a would-be tackler to grab the points. Vieira missed the conversion but Free State led the Falcons 49-26. Gomolemo Matlho added his name to the try scorers list in the 66th minute after some poor tackling let the Falcons down.
Vieira added the extras to ensure a 56-26 lead before Pretorius and Swart grabbed further tries - with a solitary Vieira conversion - to close out the match.
Scorers:
For Free State:
Tries: Janco van Heyningen, David Kriel, Rikus Pretorius 2, Rallston Dreyer, Keaton Swart 2, Juan Venter, Kagiso Marumo, Thian du Randt, Gomolemo Matlho
Cons: Mario Vieira 5
Pen: Rikus Pretorius
For the Falcons:
Tries: Ginter Smuts, Ruben Beytell 2, Tumiso Linake
Cons: Ginter Smuts 3
Yellow card: Juan Venter (Free State, 44)
Teams:
Free State: Tristan Spies, Matthew Wessels, Naude Naude, Jaco van Tonder, Kagiso Marumo, Ayabongo Ntaba, Juan Anton Venter, Dian Schoonees, Dian Antonie, Keaton Swart, Mario Vieira, Gomolemo Matlho, Rikus Pretorius, Janco van Heyningen, Rallston Dreyer, David Kriel, Thian Mathys Du Randt, Edward Davids, Gideon Beukes, Bentley Marais, Teboho Rampai, Rewan Kruger, Mfezeko Moyo, Kyle Kermis.
Falcons: Kuhle Malao, Werner Fourie, Andre van der Merwe, Reinhardt Venter, Francois du Preez, Ruben Roodt, Timothy van Diemann, Rynard Theron, Ginter Smuts, Ruben Beytell, Erzath Boesak, JJ Keyser, Lee-Irwin Andries, Tumiso Lenake, Martin Steyn, Donovan Strydom, Marcus Nyirenda, Rehann Baumann, Esihle Mbilini, Dwayne Fourie, Webster Swanepoel, Romano Jonkerman.
Referee: Pieter Maritz
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds, Local
TMO: Lourens vs d Merwe