/ 15 March 2008

Cheetahs in fine form in Vodacom Cup

The Free State Cheetahs emphasised that they are top contenders to lift the Vodacom Cup title this year with a solid 34-20 win over the Pumas in Witbank on Friday night. In other matches, the Wildebeest beat the Griffons 33-7 in Welkom and a brace of tries by Wylie Human sealed another victory for Western Province.

The Free State Cheetahs emphasised that they are top contenders to lift the Vodacom Cup title this year with a solid 34-20 win over the Pumas in Witbank on Friday night.

The visitors, still unbeaten after four rounds in the competition, scored three tries to the home side’s two, and flyhalf Johann Myburgh kept the scoreboard rolling with four penalties and a drop goal.

Myburgh is the top scorer in the competition with 64 points. His closest rival is Isma-eel Dollie of Western Province on 43.

It was the Pumas’ second successive defeat in the competition after they had started off with two big wins. Jacques Coetzee had a good game, and he was responsible for a try, two conversions and a penalty.

Victory for Wildebeest

The Wildebeest beat the Griffons 33-7 in Welkom to get their Vodacom Cup season back on track.

With Super 14 lock Steven Sykes and former South Africa Under-21 captain and lock Alistair Hargreaves in fine form the result was never in doubt, but the Griffons made their opponents work for every point.

They stood their ground in the tight phases, but they didn’t have the firepower to match the Natalians.

The Wildebeest scored five tries to gain a valuable bonus point to add to their victory over Griquas last weekend.

Western Province on top

A brace of tries by veteran flyer Wylie Human sealed another victory for Western Province as they beat a determined Leopards side 28-18 in Potchefstroom on Friday night.

Human’s tries and one by former Stormers speedster Zhahier Ryland kept Province ahead in the second half after the Leopards had turned 10-9 to the good at the break.

Province were soon 9-0 up thanks to the boot of Isma-eel Dollie after Leopards scrumhalf Theo van Wyk was sin-binned for a spear tackle in the opening minutes. Once back to 15 players, the Leopards clawed their way back to lead 10-9 at the break.

Human emerged from a ruck with ball in hand to score his first try; for his second, he showed the cover defence a clean pair of heels. Ryland scored after a poor chip kick by his opposite number, Randal April.

The Leopards never gave up, and Anvor Schooney and Deon van Rensburg were rewarded with two good tries.

Nobody in the losing side worked harder than lock-forward Rudi Mathee, who chased every ball and opponent. — Sapa