Marais kicks Cheetahs to Currie Cup glory
Niel Marais kicked a South African Currie Cup final record of seven penalties to create a 36-16 triumph for Cheetahs over Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein Saturday and end eight trophy-less seasons.
His 21-point contribution from eight shots at goal marked a wonderful climax to the domestic season for a fly-half who started it as the second choice playmaker behind Fred Zeilinga,
Marais bettered the six-penalty bench mark set by Sharks and Springboks utility back Patrick Lambie.
Cheetahs led 18-9 at half-time after a battle of the boots with Marais slotting six penalties and rival fly-half and leading 2016 Currie Cup points scorer Tian Schoeman three for Bulls.
Marais kicked another penalty in front of a near-capacity 43,500 crowd at Free State Stadium in central city Bloemfontein before the first try was scored 17 minutes from time.
An intercept and break by winger Sergeal Petersen took play close to Bulls' try-line, from where the ball moved swiftly across the field for full-back Clayton Blommetjies to dot down.
Substitute Zeilinga converted from the touchline and added a penalty for an imposing 31-9 advantage 67 minutes into the South African rugby showpiece.
Bulls finally cracked open a quick, aggressive Free State defence on 74 minutes as scrum-half Piet van Zyl dummied his way over and a fellow substitute, fly-half Joshua Stander, converted.
But Cheetahs had the final say four minutes from time when Zeilinga broke clear from midfield and sent Petersen sprinting over unopposed.
"Fantastic crowd support, hard work and a burning desire to succeed were the secrets of our success," said Cheetahs skipper and centre Francois Venter.
"We did it boys, well done," he added while pointing at his jubilant team-mates before lifting the 124-year-old trophy to thunderous applause.
Winning coach Franco Smith said: "One of my dreams was to see Cheetahs lift the Currie Cup in front of a full house in Bloemfontein."
Cheetahs won all eight regular season league matches before thrashing defending champions Golden Lions 55-17 in the semi-finals last weekend.
Smith has been rewarded with a Springbok assistant coach position for November matches against the Barbarians and England in London, Italy in Florence and Wales in Cardiff.
It was the Cheetahs' first title since defeating Lions in 2007, and a particularly sweet success as they lost their last final appearance to Bulls two seasons later.
Cheetahs' livewire loose forward Uzair Cassiem was voted the official man of the match.