Cheetahs and Lions draw in 12-try thriller
CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs and Lions played to a 44-all draw in a 12-try thriller in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs held a 23-17 lead after a first half that saw the teams score three tries each.
The try-feast continued after the break of a game in which defence was certainly NOT at a premium.
While it was an entertaining affair, the almost non-existing defence and high error rates on both sides will put the outcome into context and was perhaps a fair result.
* Did you miss the action? To recap the drama, CLICK HERE!
The lead changed hands 10 times in a remarkable game - with the Cheetahs stuck at the last place on the table, despite the three points they earned, while the Lions moved to within a point of the fourth-placed Pumas.
Why the Lions opted for a penalty goal late in the game, when they were in a strong attacking position and their pack in control, we'll never know, and it may end up costly.
It was a breathless first half and the Cheetahs were out of the blocks in almost no time as they raced into a 15-0 lead in only 13 minutes.
Ruan Pienaar scored their first 10 points with a penalty goal and a converted try – which started deep in their own half – before David Brits showed some serious aerial acrobatics as he went over in the corner for the Free Staters' second try.
At that stage, the Lions looked a bit shell-shocked, but they quickly found their groove and actually took the lead after three tries in six minutes.
First Ruhan Straeuli went over from a good chase after a box kick, three minutes later Sibahle Maxwane showed some serious pace to score in the corner, and then Jaco Visagie crashed over after a strong maul. Jordan Hendrikse missed two conversions but the one he hit put the visitors in the lead by 17-15.
The hosts found their groove late in the half and with Lions flanker Sibusiso Sangweni in the sin-bin, a second Pienaar penalty goal and a well-worked try by Craig Barry saw the Cheetahs take a 23-17 lead at the break.
The tit for tat continued in the third quarter, with Hendrikse closing the gap with an early second-half penalty goal.
Stean Pienaar then scored a superb try to put the Lions in the lead (27-23), which started with an intercept deep inside their territory, before a maul try by Louis van der Westhuizen saw the Cheetahs go back in front.
Then Burger Odendaal's five-pointer saw the visitors overtake their hosts again, before Malcolm Jaer rounded off to put the Cheetahs in the lead by 37-34 on the hour mark.
But the Lions were not done yet. Maxwane got his second after a great grubber into open space and the speedster's chase was perfect. Hendrikse's conversion meant the visitors led by 41-37, but minutes later Andisa Ntsila put the hosts in front again with another maul try, with 10 minutes left on the clock.
It was a bit of a surprise though when the team from Jozi – growing in stature with their pack taking control – opted for a penalty goal, duly nailed by Hendrikse, to tie the scores at 44-44 with two minutes left.
That is how it stayed as both teams left the Stadium with three log points each, and a mountain of work to do to make it to the playoffs.
Man of the match: Jacques Potgieter played with so much energy that he looked more like a 25-year-old than the 35 years he really is. Ruan Pienaar, 37, was another veteran in the Cheetahs team that showed the youngsters how to play - his game management and goal-kicking vital to the hosts' cause. Wandisile Simelane did his best to spark the Lions backline, but also showed his defensive frailties, while Sibahle Maxwane showed his great finishing ability with a brace of tries. Jordan Hendrikse continued to enhance his growing reputation as one of South Africa's most promising young flyhalves, although it was by no means a flawless performance. He wins our award.
The scorers
For the Cheetahs
Tries: Pienaar, Brits, Barry, Van der Westhuizen, Jaer, Ntsila
Cons: Pienaar 4
Pens: Pienaar 2
For the Lions
Tries: Straeuli, Maxwane 2, Visagie, Pienaar, Odendaal
Cons: Hendrikse 4
Pens: Hendrikse 2
Yellow card: Sibusiso Sangweni (Lions, 31 - foul play, no-arms tackle)
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Craig Barry, 13 David Brits, 12 Siya Masuku, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Jean Droste, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Aluluthu Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Mihlali Mosi, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Chris Smit.
Lions: 15 Fred Zeilinga, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Ruhan Straeuli, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Lunga Ncube, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Mark Snyman, 22 Ross Cronje, 23 Henco van Wyk.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Ben Crouse