By Ross Roche.
The Toyota Cheetahs put on a mauling clinic for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup Premier Division clash at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, with their forwards powering over three of their five tries for a 32-7 bonus-point win.
Having secured big wins in their opening two games against the Griquas and Griffons, the Cheetahs again enjoyed a comfortable day as they easily brushed aside the challenge of the Bulls to take 15 points from their first three matches.
It was an action packed start to the game, but despite opportunities for both sides, the only points of the first quarter came from a 10th-minute penalty to Cheetahs scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.
The Cheetahs scored their first try in the 21st minute, setting up a lineout deep in the Bulls 22m before powering a maul through the Bulls with flank Gideon van der Merwe dotting down and Pienaar converting for a 10-0 lead.
The Bulls struck back straight away two minutes later, counter-attacking at pace after the Cheetahs lost the ball, with inside centre Lionel Mapoe putting in a grubber and the ball finding its way to hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels to show great pace down the line and go in at the corner for a converted score.
In the 27th minute the Cheetahs set-up another lineout in the Bulls 22m, and although they received stiffer resistance, they still managed to get it rolling over the line for hooker Marnus van der Merwe to dot down.
Pienaar’s conversion attempt rebounded off the uprights, and with no further points in the half took a 15-7 lead into the break.
The Cheetahs got off to a strong start in the second half and after a number of opportunities went begging, they finally scored as flyhalf Reinhardt Fortuin sent over a perfect cross kick for wing Munier Hartzenberg to catch and sprint over to score, with Pienaar again striking the uprights.
In the 60th minute the Cheetahs followed the usual script, setting up the lineout deep in the Bulls 22m, setting the maul and then rumbling over the line with replacement forward Sibabalo Qoma dotting down and Pienaar adding the extras for a 27-7 lead.
The home side then added the cherry to the cake with a try on the fulltime hooter as they attacked well through wing Daniel Kasende, who had been dangerous all game, before fullback Cohen Jasper went over for the unconverted score to end proceedings.
SCORERS
CHEETAHS: Tries – Gideon van der Merwe, Marnus van der Merwe, Munier Hartzenberg, Sibabalo Qoma, Cohen Jasper; Conversions – Ruan Pienaar (2); Penalty – Pienaar
BULLS: Try – Jan-Hendrik Wessels; Conversion – Franco Knoetze.
Meanwhile the Lions picked up their first win of the 2023 Currie Cup competion after a stunning 12-minute hattrick from scrumhalf Nico Steyn helping them battle back from a 14-point deficit to beat the Griffons 41-26 at Ellis Park on Friday afternoon.