A four-try starring performance from Toyota Cheetahs left wing Munier Hartzenberg helped them power to a superb 52-12 win over the NovaVit Griffons in their Currie Cup clash at the Down Touch Investment Stadium in Welkom on Sunday afternoon.
Six tries in a completely dominant first-half performance, including a hat-trick from Hartzenberg, gave the visitors a massive 40-6 lead at the break, and although they took their foot off the gas in the second half they never looked like being breached as they clinched an easy win in the end.
It was a strong start to the match for the Cheetahs as they took a 14-3 lead after just 13 minutes with two early tries.
Hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg broke off the back of a rumbling rolling maul to power over and flank Friedle Olivier forced his way over from close range, with scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar converting both, while Griffons scrumhalf Jaywinn Juries slotted a penalty in between.
In the 18th minute Hartzenberg went over for his first, finishing off a sweet passing move down the backline, before Juries added a second penalty with the score 19-6 after 22 minutes.
Another good backline move in the Griffons 22m gave Hartzenberg the space to show his skill with a step and acceleration to go over for his second in the 26th minute.
CHEETAHS AT THEIR FREE-FLOWING BEST
Three minutes later it was the Cheetahs forwards pulling off a move as Janse van Rensburg made the break into the 22m before offloading to rumbling lock Victor Sekekete to dot down, with Pienaar’s extras giving them a strong 33-6 lead.
The visitors finished the half in style as they found more joy down the left hand touch, with Hartzenberg releasing Sekekete down the line before following up and finishing off his hat-trick.
The Griffons got off to a good start in the second half, but after being awarded penalties in good positions to kick into the Cheetahs 22m, they bizarrely went for posts with Juries knocking two over to make it 40-12 after 51 minutes.
But the Cheetahs were soon back at their free-flowing best as they counter attacked from a clearance into their own half, finding space down the left for the umpteenth time as Olivier released Hartzenberg to speed over for another in the 55th minute.
The Griffons' strange decision of kicking for posts whenever in range finally came back to bite them as Juries missed possibly his easiest shot of the day, which saw them kick to touch when presented an easier opportunity a few minutes later, only to knock on when setting up the maul.
In the 70th minute a big boot ahead from replacement centre Robert Ebersohn saw replacement wing Cohen Jasper chase up well and receive a kind bounce, allowing him to dot down for the Cheetahs' eighth and final try, converted by flyhalf Reinhardt Fortuin to give them a big win.
BRAGGING RIGHTS??@cheetahsrugby put on a clinical display in Welkom to grab a bonus-point win in this afternoon's Free State derby????#CurrieCup #WhereLegendsRise pic.twitter.com/NWyFBl2JgG
— The Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) March 19, 2023
Scorers
Griffons: Penalties- Jaywinn Juries (4)
Cheetahs: Tries- Marko Janse van Rensburg, Friedle Olivier, Munier Hartzenberg (4), Victor Sekekete, Cohen Jasper; Conversions - Ruan Pienaar (5), Reinhardt Fortuin