Steyn boots Cheetahs to victory in Kimberley
CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Cheetahs ended their Currie Cup campaign with a hard-fought 22-18 win over Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
Griquas went down despite outscoring their opponents by two tries to one in the match.
Hawies Fourie's team led 10-6 at half-time, and not for the first time this season, they had to thank the booming boot of experienced Springbok midfielder Frans Steyn for steering them home.
The big inside centre succeeded with five penalties and a conversion for another flawless kicking display and a personal tally of 17 points. Hooker Marnus van der Merwe scored their only try early in the first half.
Gideon van der Merwe (flank) and Daniel Kasende (right wing) each scored a try for the home side, while flyhalf Tinus de Beer (two penalty goals) and replacement flyhalf George Whitehead (conversion) added the rest of the points via successful kicks.
The win means the team from Bloemfontein finish the season with a total of six wins from 12 games and a final tally of 31 log points.
However, the men from Kimberley finished the season winless from 12 starts, a number of those defeats by the tightest of margins.
The Free Staters enjoyed a 10-6 lead at the break courtesy of a converted try and a penalty, while the home side replied with two penalty goals.
The first half was an evenly matched affair and both sides had a try disallowed early on.
The Cheetahs’ forward onslaught eventually earned them reward when Van der Merwe went over for the first points of the match and Steyn slotting the conversion (7-0).
However, the home team hit back almost immediately through a De Beer penalty kick and the No.10 was again on target two minutes later when he landed his second attempt (7-6).
Steyn easily slotted the first of five penalty goal attempts and the only one of the first half to hand his side a four-point lead at the break.
The home team started the second half more determined of the two and loose forward Van der Merwe dotted down for their first try after the resumption as they grabbed back the initiative with the score 11-10 in their favour.
Steyn then proceeded to add three more penalty goals to his tally, while Kasende's converted try a few minutes from the end kicked the home side into furious action during the last few minutes (19-18).
However, another transgression led to another penalty and once more it was that man Steyn who stepped up to convert penalty goal number five of the afternoon as he crucially grabbed back the lead for the final time.
The home side had one more opportunity to secure that much sought after first win, however, their lost line-out on the opponents try line pretty much summed up their season of missed opportunities.
Man of the match: Cheetahs inside centre Frans Steyn gets the award this week with his 17 points with the boot. He was also strong with ball in hand.
The scorers:
For Griquas:
Tries: Van der Merwe, Kasende
Con: Whitehead
Pens: De Beer 2
For Cheetahs:
Try: Van der Merwe
Con: Steyn
Pens: Steyn 5
Teams:
Griquas: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Mox Mxoli.
Replacements: 16 CJ Conradie, 17 Bandisa Ndlovu, 18 Tijde Visser, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Ederies Arendse.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 George Cronje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner (captain), 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter,
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Rhyno Smith.
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby, Paul Mente
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
Additional source: SA Rugby