The Free State Cheetahs put together an impressive display of exhilarating but controlled running rugby in beating the Valke 78-7 in Brakpan on Friday night to keep their Currie Cup semifinal hopes very much alive.
The result improved their points difference to 114 — 29 better than that of Western Province — and also moved them five points clear of Western Province on the log.
However, the Cape Town side have a match in hand and still have to play the Boland Kavaliers and the Lions — both at home — while the Cheetahs must also play the Kavaliers in Bloemfontein.
It was fast, exciting and good to watch albeit a little loose at times as the Cheetahs ran at every possible opportunity in chasing their bonus point and to reduce Western Province’s points advantage.
Five tries in the first half for a 31-0 lead at half-time was proof that they were on the right track. They ended with 12 tries, with smooth running and passing behind the pack and good foraging by Heinrich Brussow and Duanne Vermeulen in particular.
The pace of their attacks and too many Valke turnovers made the difference against a Valke side that competed well on the ground but didn’t have an answer in the scrums or when the ball went wide.
The fact that the Valke were issued with three yellow cards — two of their players were off the field at the same time — also didn’t help their cause.
Not that the Valke didn’t try. They put together a few good moves themselves and tackled like demons.
Replacement hooker Ryno Barnes scored the Valke’s only try after 70 minutes.
Pick of the Valke was probably never-say-die scrumhalf Gerrie Odendaal.
The bonus point, a relative rarity for the Cheetahs this season, came after 28 minutes via JW Jonker’s second try.
Particularly impressive was Cheetahs flyhalf and man-of-the-match Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
Scorers:
Valke: Try: Ryno Barnes Conversion: Jeff Perkins
Cheetahs: Tries: JW Jonker (2), Duanne Vermeulen, Kabamba Floors, Tewis de Bruyn (2), Jongi Nokwe (3), penalty try, Heinrich Brussouw, Jacques-Louis Potgieter. Conversions: Potgieter (8), De Bruyn. — Sapa