Cheetahs coast past Munster

MUNSTER suffered their first defeat of the Pro 14 season as a very strong Cheetahs outfit maintained their winning run. Tries from Ox Nche, Junior Pokomela, William Small-Smith, Joseph Dweba, Jasper Wiese and Rhyno Smith ensured the Cheetahs continued their 100 per cent start to the new season. Munster had also won their first two games before arriving at Toyota Stadium but three Tyler Bleyendaal penalties and a late Dan Goggin try was not enough to avoid defeat. The loss was Munster’s first to a South African side since they joined the Pro14. The standout performer on the night was certainly the livewire Dweba. He was a nuisance from start to finish and after throwing a deadly accurate lineout, he was there to finish the move off to secure the bonus-point try.

CHEETAHS: R Smith, W Small-Smith (C Blommetjies 58), B Janse van Rensburg, L Fouché, A Volmink, T Schoeman, R Pienaar (captain) (T Meyer 74), H Venter, J Pokomela (S Koen 58), G Olivier (J Wiese h/t), W Steenkamp, S Manjezi (JP du Preez 68), L de Bruin (N Fouch 68), J Dweba (R Venter 68), O Nche (B Venter 68).

SCORERS — Tries: Nche, Pokomela, SmallSmith, Dweba, Wiese, R. Smith. Cons: Piernaar 4, T Schoeman.

MUNSTER: M Haley (C Nash 65); D Sweetnam, D Goggin, R Scannell, S Daly; T Bleyendaal (JJ Hanrahan 62), N McCarthy (A Mathewson 50); J Loughman (J Cronin 55), R Marshall (K O’Byrne 50), S Archer (K Knox 55); F Wycherley (D O’Shea 72), B Holland (C); J O’Donoghue, T O’Donnell (G Coombes 55), A Botha.

SCORERS — Tries: Goggin. Cons: Hanrahan. Pens: Bleyendaal 3.