The Cheetahs moved to the top of the Currie Cup log once again with a convincing 78-8 victory over second-from-bottom Falcons in a one-sided game in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The hosts led 29-8 at the break, having already garnered their bonus point.
The Cheetahs put their first try up on the board in the sixth minute when left-wing Alwyn Hollenbach, recently returned from a serious injury, barged over on the left.
The Falcons, denied of much of the ball, hit back minutes later through a long-distance penalty by flyhalf Louis Strydom.
With both teams not really trying much creatively, the match went a little stale for 10 minutes before a Cheetahs maul led to a try by Ryno van der Merwe, another difficult conversion attempt, also missed by Meyer Bosman.
The Cheetahs were in cruise control and rarely looked like being troubled. They played the game at a pace they dictated and were rewarded, if not with spectacular rugby then points, in the way of tries, the third scored by centre Hendrik Meyer to give the hosts a 15-3 lead.
Meyer had a dream of a debut completing his brace on the half-hour mark, this time in front of the poles for Bosman to convert. And as easily as that, the Cheetahs had their bonus point, with 50 minutes still to play.
The Falcons, for their part, did not panic and scored a brilliant try of their own through the outright pace of left-wing Mpho Matsaung, who blitzed down the left to dot down, taking the score to 22-8.
That became 29-8 just before the half-time break when lock Corniel van Zyl scored a converted try.
Just after the break the carnage continued when Van Zyl barged over for his second, setting the tone for the rest of the half.
A second by Hollenbach, converted by Bosman took the score to 43-8.
Man of the match, stand-out centre Meyer, scored his hat-trick after some dismal defence and the score hit 50-8.
Phillip Burger then came off the bench and waltzed through a static Falcons defence for his trademark swallow dive, the Cheetahs ninth. He added his brace minutes later while Hollenbach notched up a hat-trick.
Falie Oelschig took over the kicking with aplomb and landed four from four, as nine of the 12 tries were converted.
Meyer, fittingly had the final say with a run from 70m out, running left then cutting in under the poles, and passing to Marius Schoeman to score in a show of rare generosity. – Sapa