ANDY CAPOSTAGNO, Bloemfontein | Saturday 7.00pm
THE Free State Cheetahs won the Vodacom Cup with a display of verve and wit, beating neighbours Griqualand West 44-24 in Bloemfontein. Prompted by a fine flyhalf performance from Zimbabwean international Kennedy Tsimba, the Cheetahs established a 17-3 lead by the 17th minute and were never subsequently threatened.
20-10 ahead at halftime, the Cheetahs wrapped the match up as a contest with two tries in the first four minutes of the second half. Replacement centre Mike Marais finished off a move begun by fullback Friederich Lombaard for the first and a misdirected kick from Griquas captain Boeta Wessels gifted the second to replacement flank Gerrie Britz.
Griquas fought back with two tries of their own through hooker Tom Cameron and flanker Thandu Manana, but Free State had the last laugh when Lombaard raced clear for his team’s fifth try.
Tsimba was subsequently awarded the player of the series trophy. The much travelled flyhalf played sevens rugby for Zimbabwe in Hong Kong before making his 15 a side debut in the build up to last year’s World Cup. He has also played for Bath in the English league, but his game has taken a quantum leap since his move to South Africa.
Tsimba was the creator for the Cheetahs’ first two tries and opened the scoring with an adroit drop goal in the 7th minute. The first try came from a deft pass to centre MJ Smith, who had already played 20 minutes as a replacement for the Cats in the Super 12 match which acted as the curtain raiser.
The second came after a good break by scrumhalf Neil Powell. Although Griquas never gave up they were starved of quality ball and had no one remotely capable of matching Tsimba’s option taking ability.