The Cheetahs beat the Bulls 34-28 in their Super Rugby match in Bloemfontein on Saturday night in a bonus-point win.
Photo from video
The home side had to withstand a brave Bulls fightback in the second half in what proved to be a memorable match.
The Cheetahs made all the early play and deservedly went into the lead in the fifth minute when a high-tempo break-out from their 22 saw inside centre Clinton Swart score. The Bulls had hardly touched the ball in the first 10 minutes until big lock Jason Jenkins found himself in space 30m out and galloped home. But Handre Pollard’s conversion attempt went wide to leave the home side in front at 7-5.
The Bulls had hardly touched the ball in the first 10 minutes until big lock Jason Jenkins found himself in space 30m out and galloped home. But Handre Pollard’s conversion attempt went wide to leave the home side in front at 7-5.
The rampaging Cheetahs soon scored through Oupa Mohoje as he finished a off a fine team try.
The Bulls began to get their hands on the ball and Pollard narrowed the deficit to 14-11 with two penalties around the 20-minute mark, but a clever Cheetahs’ lineout tactic, with wing Ryno Benjamin taking the throw-in, resulted in lock Justin Basson barging over. Fred Zeilinga’s third conversion made it 21-11 at the half-hour mark.
Fred Zeilinga’s third conversion made it 21-11 at the half-hour mark.
The Cheetahs’ relentless attacking play continued to stretch the Bulls’ defence and Uzair Cassiem burst through in the 35th minute to set up fellow flank Mohoje for his second try.
The panicking Bulls managed a penalty on the stroke of halftime but would have gone into the change room shell-shocked at 14-28 down.
The Cheetahs gave their visitors no respite after the break and Zeilinga kicked a penalty after 10 minutes of pressure deep in the Bulls’ half.
The game entered a deadlock until the 65th minute when substitute Bulls scrumhalf Piet van Zyl scored, converted by Pollard’s replacement Tiaan Schoeman, and when Jamba Ulengo scored two minutes later, a grand stand finish was on at 31-28, with Schoeman having landed the conversion.
A Zeilinga penalty in the 74th minute relieved some of the pressure but the Cheetahs had to tackle for their lives to hang on for the win.
Scorers: Cheetahs 34 (28): Tries: Clinton Swart, Oupa Mohoje (2), Justin Basson. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (4). Penalties: Fred Zeilinga. (2)
Bulls 28 (14): Tries: Jason Jenkin, Piet van Zyl, Jumbo Ulenga. Conversions: Tiaan Schoeman (2). Penatlties: Handre Pollard (3)
