Cheetahs fight back but fall short against Scarlets
MATCH REPORT: Cheetahs suffered their second Challenge Cup defeat when they were edged out 17-20 by Scarlets on Friday.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
The result means that the Scarlets are through to the Round of 16 after recording a third straight win of their campaign.
Scarlets scored two tries during the contest through Steff Evans and Johnny McNicholl - one on either side of the interval, while Leigh Halfpenny added 10 points with the boot.
Cheetahs, who trailed 3-10 at the break, took the lead in the second half thank to tries by Louis Westhuizen and Daniel Kapepula.
However, Halfpenny's 64th-minute penalty kick proved to be the decider.
Halfpenny notched the first points of the match, kicking a penalty on 10 minutes before a moment of brilliance from Scarlets’ Rhys Patchell.
The flyhalf delivered a tantalising grubber kick through the Cheetahs defensive line and into the path of the onrushing Evans who scampered home for the score.
A Siya Masuku penalty for the visiting South Africans reduced the deficit to seven heading into the break – a late yellow card for Scarlets’ Carwyn Tuipulotu giving Cheetah an advantage early in the second half.
They duly delivered with two early tries. Firstly, Westhuizen went to work on the back of a Cheetahs’ rolling maul, breaking away to cross just three minutes after the interval.
Then, Kapepula breached the Scarlets ranks with a dazzling breakaway to give the visitors a 17-10 lead.
The Welsh region responded in kind, wing Johnny McNicholl crossing after some quick hands shifted the ball to the right flank.
Scarlets held on for a third straight win in Pool B and left Cheetahs with their knockout stage hopes hanging in the balance after just one win so far.
The South African side host Section Paloise in their final Pool B encounter, while Scarlets visit Aviron Bayonnais in their final pool match-up.
Man of the match: It was a very lacklustre performance by both teams, no one really ignited the stage. However our nod goes to Leigh Halfpenny, who scored the winning points of the match.
The scorers:
For Scarlets:
Tries: Evans, McNicholl
Cons: Halfpenny 2
Pens: Halfpenny 2
For Cheetahs:
Tries: Van Der Westerhuizen, Kapepula.
Cons: Masuku 2
Pen: Masuku
Yellow card: Carwyn Tuipulotu (Scarlets, 39 - dangerous tackle)
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Jonathan Davies (captain), 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Kemsley Mathias,
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Jac Price, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Cheetahs: 15 Andell Loubser, 14 Daniel Kapepula, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Branden de Kock, 22 Robert Ebersohn, 23 Tapiwa Mafura,
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Sara Cox (England) & Clara Munarini (Italy)
TMO: Claire Hodnett (England)