Cheetahs maintain unbeaten Currie Cup record

The Toyota Free State Cheetahs maintained their unbeaten record in the Carling Currie Cup with a 35-26 (halftime 14-20) victory over the Sigma Lions at the Emirate Airline Park in Johannesburg on Friday evening.

The visitors produced an excellent second-half fightback, despite having two tries overturned by the TMO in the first half to secure their eighth victory in as many games and return to the top of the Currie Cup log and maintain their unbeaten record in this years competition.

The Cheetahs scored four tries through flanker Gideon van der Merwe, hooker Marnus van der Merwe, winger Duncan Saal and replacement hooker Louis van der Westhuizen while the Lions scored two of their own through left wing Stean Pienaar and flanker Lindo Ncusane.

Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar landed three conversions and three penalties to the Lions flyhalf Stiaan Swanepoel’s two conversions and four penalties.

Both sides suffered yellow cards with the visitors losing flanker Gideon van der Merwe on the stroke of halftime while the Lions were struck down late the in the second half when replacement forward Junior White was sin-binned 10-minutes from time before flanker Sibusiso Sangweni was binned with just a minute left on the clock.

The Lions used their one-man advantage after the restart, scoring a try and a penalty to turn a one-point deficit into a nine-point lead as they frustrated the Cheetahs play. However, the Cheetahs found their composure and rhythm to break down the Lions defence and secure victory.

The Cheetahs had two tries disallowed from flanker Jeandre Rudolph and prop Johan Coetzee but it was the Lions who used their early opportunities well when winger Pienaar went over after some good play down the left flank. The conversion and a penalty from Swanepoel gave the Lions a 10-point lead mid-way through the first half.

The Cheetahs fought their way back into the match, using their forwards as both Van der Merwe’s scored with Pienaar adding the extra points to give the visitors a slender one-point lead heading into the break, however, flanker Van der Merwe was binned allowing the Lions to score their second try, converted to hand them a six-point lead at the break.

But the second half brought the Cheetahs back into the match despite an early penalty from Swanepoel which extended the Lions’ lead to nine points. Pienaar and Swanepoel traded penalties before two tries from the visitors gave them the lead and the much-needed bonus point, secured the win.

A late penalty from Pienaar, denied the Lions a losing-bonus point which left the Johannesburg-based side winless after nine games and having just three points on the cards, six behind DHL Western Province, who have won just once this campaign.

SCORERS

SIGMA LIONS – Tries: Stean Pienaar, Lindo Ncusane; Conversions: Stiaan Swanepoel (2); Penalties: Swanepoel (4)

TOYOTA FREE STATE XV – Tries: Gideon van der Merwe, Marnus van der Merwe, Duncal Saal, Louis van der Westhuizen; Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3); Penalties: Pienaar (3).