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Smith steals it for Cheetahs at the death

rugby25 January 2020 16:05| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Tian Schoeman © Gallo Images

A last minute try by fullback Rhyno Smith and a crucial conversion by reserve halfback Ruan Pienaar saw the Toyota Cheetahs sneak home 31-30 in a dramatic PRO14 Rugby derby with the Isuzu Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Pienaar chipped a cross kick into the arms of Smith, who bobbled the ball but held on in the air to crash to the ground and score the try to deny the Kings a superb victory and keep them winless in the derby.

Pienaar then added the conversion to break the hearts of the home side, who led from start until the end and would have deserved to get the win on their gutsy play alone.

But rugby is often not a forgiving mistress and the Kings learnt that they need to control a game to the end as they conceded two tries in the last 10 minutes to lose the game at the death.

Smith’s clincher was a crucial one for coach Hawies Fourie, whose side desperately needed the points in their hunt for the playoff places in the PRO14 championship.

Still, it was hard not to feel for the Kings, who had put in an inspired performance and especially on defence were particularly impressive.

Smith scored a brace and was matched by Sinjo Manjezi on the scoresheet, but the bravery of the Kings – and in particular Thembelani Bholi and Ruan Lerm, who both had exceptional games, should not be underestimated.

For most of the game the Cheetahs paid the price for ill-discipline and looked a shadow of their attacking selves as the Kings defence was both firm and aggressive, and they struggled to find ways through the home team’s defence.

It was a massive tackle from Lerm that got the ball rolling, dislodging the ball from Gerhard Olivier in the hit with the bounce favouring flyhalf Bader Pretorius, who took the ball and weaved his way over the line.

Two penalties from Pretorius put the Kings 13-0 up before a dropped lineout ball by the Kings gifted the Cheetahs lock Sinto Manjezi a try against his old side.

Early in the second half, a perfect intercept by Kings’ captain Stefan Ungerer put them 20-5 up before Manjezi ground his way over from close range to close the gap.

The Kings then scored again, this time an audacious chip from Ungerer which flummoxed three defenders and fell perfectly for JT Jackson to score under the posts and make it 27-12.

Wilmar Arnoldi began the comeback for the Cheetahs on the hour mark by going over at the back of a rolling maul before Pretorius added another penalty to make it 30-17 with just nine minutes to go.

But then Smith went over after relentless pressure to bring the result into the Cheetahs sights and when Pienaar chipped the ball wide, he would make no mistake, and steal the game at the end.

Scorers

Isuzu Southern Kings – Tries: Baden Pretorius, Stefan Ungerer, JT Jackson. Conversions: Pretorius (3). Penalties: Pretorius (3).

Toyota Cheetahs – Tries: Sintu Manjezi (2), Rhyno Smith (2), Wilmar Arnoldi. Conversions: Tian Schoeman (1), Ruan Pienaar (2)

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