Cheetahs run Pumas ragged
Log leaders extend unbeaten run to seven matches in emphatic victory
THE Cheetahs romped to a 52-10 bonus-point victory over the Pumas in their Currie Cup match at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, last night.
Leading 31-3 at half-time, the Cheetahs could afford a drop in intensity during the second period. Even though they were not as dominant after the break, that did not stop them keeping the scoreboard ticking over in a match that never appeared to be an even contest. The Cheetahs outscored the hosts by a whopping eight tries to one.
Cheetahs wing Rayno Benjamin opened the scoring as he snapped up a loose ball in the Pumas’ 22 before dotting down under the posts. Flyhalf Niel Marais added the extra two from in front to make it 7-0 to the visiting side in the eighth minute.
Francois Brummer got the Pumas going with a penalty in the 20th minute – the hosts’ only first-half points.
A driving maul paid dividends from a line-out 5m out, with flank Uzair Cassiem crashing over for the second Cheetahs try. Marais obliged with the conversion to make it 14-3.
From the restart, the Cheetahs were over the Pumas’ line yet again as they moved out of their own half at pace. Quick offloading set up flank Paul Schoeman, who barged over in the corner. 19-3.
The Cheetahs moved into a 24-3 lead through another backline move, with centre and captain Francois Venter scoring the bonus-point try.
The Cheetahs then scored an audacious try when Benjamin took a quick-tap penalty before putting in an overhead kick for Schoeman, who gathered on the line to dot down for the score. Marais slotted the conversion to make it 31-3 at half-time.
Benjamin crossed the whitewash after eight minutes of second-half play, when the Cheetahs took a quick penalty from close range. Marais slotted the conversion to extend the advantage to 38-3.
Benjamin was then over for his hat-trick try, with the Cheetahs backs running good lines before the speedster gathered the final pass. Marais nudged over the kick to make it 45-3.
The Pumas finally scored a try with nine minutes remaining. Hooker Franke Herne dived over for the score, which fullback Heinrich Steyl converted to make it 45-10.
Another successful driving maul in the Pumas’ 22 left Cheetahs replacement Elandre Huggett in the perfect position to score. Fellow replacement Fred Zeilinga sent the conversion over to make it 52-10.
Four tries in the final quarter saw the Blue Bulls come from behind to beat the Boland Cavaliers 48-26 in their Currie Cup match yesterday afternoon.
The Pretoria visitors scored seven tries to the four of Boland in an entertaining game in front of a boisterous Boland Stadium crowd on a sunny day in Wellington.
The bonus-point victory left the Bulls on 30 points and sealed their semi-final berth. – African News Agency