Cheetahs march on as they dispose of Western Province

MATCH REPORT: Cheetahs Robertson Ebersohn (100th cap) and captain Victor Sekekete (50th cap) were gifted with a hard-earned 26-21 Currie Cup win over Western Province in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

In typical Currie Cup style it was a hard fought battle which saw Western Province having to defend with 13 players on the field in the last five minutes.

Western Province came out blazing and showed their intent early in the game, although it was the homeside that got the first points on the board when Reinhardt Fortuin scored in the eight minute.

The intensity of the sides were evident in the first quarter in which numerous turnovers were made. This made for exciting runnin rugby as both sides opted not to kick, but banking on their hard runners to score tries.

Western Province finally got first points in the 25th minute after the Cheetahs were penalized for obstruction in the lineout . The visitors opted for another attacking lineout opportunity and after a quick ball Damian Markus got over the line.

This was followed up two minutes later by Jarrod Taylor after great interlinking play by the Western Province backs.

The Cheetahs were under pressure as Western Province fired on all cylinders for a while before half-time.

Sekekete made another great steel and sent Siba Qoba away. The flank showed clean heels before sending Pienaar over.

But WP had the last say before halftime as Luke Burger scored a typical wing try from a scrum in the middle of the field and Godlen Masimla sending the ball wide. Burger bumped off Cohen Jasper spectacularly to score.

The second half saw the momentum shifting with the Cheetahs taking control, while the visitors started slacking in their discipline. Replacement Daniel Maarten finally forced his way and the conversion brought the score to 21-21 and all to play for.

In the last fifteen minutes the Cheetahs pulled out all the stops to stretch ahead, attacking from all angles, but the visitors did not give an inch.

Until the indiscrestions started and captain Jean-Luc du Plessis was told his side is on a warning. Minutes later first Chad Solomon and then Adre Smith got their marching orders. The Cheetahs capitalised on their numerical advantage and Munier Hartzenburg got the final try.

The Cheetahs remain at the top of the Currie Cup log, while WP have slipped to fifth before match between the Bulls and Sharks in Pretoria.

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The scorers:

For the Cheetahs:

Tries: Fortuin, Pienaar, Maartens, Munier-Hartzenburg

Cons: Pienaar 4

For Western Province:

Tries: Markus, Taylor, Burger

Cons: Blommetjies 3

Yellow cards: Chad Solomon (WP, 72’ for foul play), Adre Smith (WP, 75’ foul play)

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siyamthanda Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 George Cronje, 7 Siba Qomo, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Nqobisizwe Mxoli, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Friedle Olivier, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 David Brits.

Western Province: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Lloyd Koster, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Luke Burger, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Dylan de Leeuw, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Kwenzo Blose.

Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Duncan Saal.

Referee: Paul Mente

Assistant referees: Scottie Olivier and Jason Morrow

TMO: Archie Sehlako