The Free State Cheetahs got their Absa Currie Cup campaign off to a perfect start with a comfortable 38-19 win over the Golden Lions at Vodacom Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Cheetahs led 21-5 at half-time after dominating all aspects of the game against a disappointing Lions outfit and should have been further ahead at the break but for some poor decision-making.
Overall it was a commanding performance from the home team that will have given the other pretenders to the Bulls’ Currie Cup crown a huge wake-up call.
The Lions managed to give the final scoreline some respectability with two late consolation tries in the last five minutes, but by then it was all over bar the shouting.
Cheetahs captain Rassie Erasmus led from the front all afternoon and was the scorer of one of his team’s four tries. Former Springbok hooker Naka Drotske also had a number of impressive runs in what was his 100th game for Free State after returning from London Irish recently.
Both men were instrumental in the resounding victory, while young scrumhalf Michael Claassens thrived behind a dominant pack.
Erasmus was the kingpin in most of the Cheetahs’ attacks, but despite a host of opportunities in the first 20 minutes they only had an Eddie Fredericks try to show for their efforts.
The rest of the half also belonged to the home side with a rampant pack and slick, efficient service from the base by Claassens.
The Lions managed to frustrate the home team in the first quarter, which led to some niggle between the players midway through the half. Referee Shaun Feldsman handled the situation with aplomb and Cheetahs flyhalf Willem de Waal made no mistake from the ensuing penalty to put his team 8-0 up.
Despite playing second fiddle, the Lions launched their first real attack of the match and were rewarded when Lawrence Sephaka, playing tighthead prop, barged over for an unconverted try in the 23rd minute.
De Waal, however, kept his team’s noses in front with two more penalties — in the 27th and 36th minutes — before prop Rayno Gerber dotted down in the final minute of the half to take his team into the break with a healthy 16-point cushion.
Lions coach Frans Ludeke rang the changes in the first 10 minutes of the second period, but it failed to produce the much-needed spark in an impecunious Lions effort.
De Waal increased the lead with his fourth penalty shortly after the restart, while the introduction of Jaco van Schalkwyk at fullback for Isak Job kept the Lions pinned in their own half.
Replacement number eight Schalk van der Merwe — who came on for injured skipper Russell Winter after 30 minutes — was sin-binned for a cynical punch in the 55th minute.
During his time off the field, the home team ran in two wonderful tries to seal the bonus point and a great victory, although Van der Merwe returned to score one of the two late tries.
The match also saw the return of centre Gcobani Bobo from a long-term injury on the hour mark, but his introduction did little to stem the tide as the Cheetahs ran out deserved victors. — Sapa