Cheetahs too good for Force...again
REPORT: The Cheetahs made it two wins from two matches in the Challenge Series with a 27-12 win over the Western Force in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The home side outscored their opponents by four tries to two during the 80 minutes.
It’s the second win in a row for the Cheetahs after they beat the Force 31-27 in Bloemfontein last Friday.
They will now head to Australia to face the Force in another two matches in the series.
The force applied the early pressure in Saturday's encounter and they got an early advantage when Cheetahs captain Jeandre Rudolph was yellow carded for his team's repeated infringements.
The Cheetahs' defence eventually cracked in the ninth minute when Sam Spink broke through to score the game's first try.
Flyhalf Max Burey hit the post with his conversion.
The visitors were starting to find plenty of space out wide and after some great interplay between the backline players, centre Bayley Kuenzle crashed over for the game's second try. This time Burey was able to add the extra two points with the conversion.
The Cheetahs finally got more of the possession after the Force's early dominance and with some great running and slick passing, flank Daniel Maartens was put into space out wide to run in for a try.
George Lourens made it a five-point game with his conversion.
The Force thought they had a third try a few minutes later after a great counterattack. However, the score was cancelled after Tapiwa Mafura was played in the air earlier in the play.
The Cheetahs' fullback landed awkwardly and Spink received a yellow card for the incident.
The home side had the final say in the first half when Marko Janse van Rensburg found his way to the tryline via a powerful driving maul.
Lourens converted the try to give the Cheetahs a two-point lead at the break.
Hawies Fourie's side went further in front early in the second half after Marcell Muller finished off some great interplay inside the Force half. Lourens could not find the direction with his conversion.
The Force were also reduced to 14 men again after the TMO spotted Jackson Pugh failing to wrap his arms in a cleanout at a ruck.
The Cheatahs eventually increased their lead to 10 points in the 61st minute with a Ruan Pienaar penalty.
The game was wrapped up in the final minute with replacement hooker Janus Venter being driven over the tryline for the Cheetahs' fourth try.
The scorers:
For Cheetahs:
Tries: Maartens, Janse van Rensburg, Muller, Venter
Cons: Lourens 2
Pen: Pienaar
For Western Force:
Tries: Spink, Kuenzle
Con: Burey
Yellow cards: Jeandre Rudolph (Cheetahs, 6' - repeated infringements); Sam Spink (Western Force, 28' - foul play, playing an opponent in the air); Jackson Pugh (Western Force, 44' - foul play, dangerous cleanout)
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Raegan Oranje, 13 David Brits, 12 Abner van Reenen, 11 Marcell Muller, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (Captain), 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Zito Victor Sekekete, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Friedle Olivier, 22 Ruan Pienaar, 23 Robert Ebersohn.
Western Force: 15 Harry Potter, 14 George Poolman, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Max Burey, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Jeremy Williams, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Donny Freeman, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Jackson Pugh, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Marley Pearce.
Replacements: 16 Ford Hemi, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Regi Churchward, 19 Fa’amanu Kalolo, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Gio Leituala.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni.
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison and Griffin Colby
TMO: Quinton Immelman.