The Free State Cheetahs secured their place in this year’s Vodacom Cup semifinals by beating the Boland Cavaliers by 35-20 at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein. The home side led the Cavaliers 24-10 at the break, but the visitors never gave up.
Wilton Pietersen, South African under-20 fullback, scored a brace of tries and didn’t put a foot wrong on the night. Pietersen showed class byond his years. He scored the Cheetahs’ second and last try of the match. The last try sealed the victory after Boland’s fight-back.
The home side’s flyhalf, Jannie Myburgh, and inside centre Bernd Theisinger kicked away too much of their side’s possession. Very few of Myburgh’s kicks found touch in the second half.
Ashley Johnson, Cheetahs captain, led his team from the front, taking up the ball brilliantly. Boland were in with a chance for victory trailing by only 20-27 with 20 minutes left in the match.
For the losing side, Dewald Duvenhage, the South African under-20 scrumhalf, played well. He was doing more than his part on cover defence and was dangerous on attack.
Ronnie Uys (prop), Howard Noble (wing) and Jandr̩ Blom (scrumhalf) all played well for the victors. Noble opened the scoring for the Cheetahs and his pace too much for the visitors. РSapa