Cheetahs fight to go top with supreme second half display

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THE Cheetahs overturned a half-time deficit to claim a hard-earned Currie Cup victory over Western Province in Cape Town yesterday to move to the top of the table.

A 77th-minute penalty try after a powerful driving maul sealed a 26-17 victory for the Cheetahs after the visitors went into the break trailing by two points.

The win sees the Cheetahs, who fielded their Challenge Cup side, temporarily going top of the table after a fifth victory in six games, with the Pumas to play Griffons this afternoon.

Tries by

Andre-Huberg-Mngomezulu, go Venter and Angelo Davids, both converted by Kade Wolhuter, gave Western Province a slender 14-12 lead at the break. Flanker Gideon van der Merwe and flyhalf Reinhardt Fortuin scored a try each for the Cheetahs.

Both teams had good attacking opportunities in the second half, Province through an excellent 50-22 from Sacha FeinThe

while the Cheetahs created a linebreak down the wing from Cohen Jasper.

Wolhuter’s penalty extended the home side’s advantage to five points.

However, the Cheetahs hit back and reclaimed the lead when hooker Louis van der Westhuizen, who had earlier made a 30m linebreak, burrowed over the tryline from close range.

Western Province missed a big opportunity to edge ahead when JeanLuc du Plessis shanked a penalty attempt in the 71st minute from out in front.

Cheetahs then worked their way upfield and turned to their maul, winning penalty after penalty, before being awarded the decisive penalty try.

Elsewhere, the Bulls got their season back on track with a vital 24-20 Currie Cup victory over the Sharks on Friday afternoon courtesy of Sibongile Novuka’s hattrick.