Valuable Away Victory – Featured Durban Blog

The Cell C Sharks were made to work hard, but ultimately deserved what was a tough and uncompromising 38-30 Vodacom Super Rugby victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.

A brave, composed and competitive performance allowed us to build the foundations for a very important win over a side who it must be said, never gave up. But ultimately, there was just too much pressure on the home side who were, at times, full value, but at others, simply not able to counter our best efforts.

Near perfect conditions greeted both sides with the match played under clear, blue skies, although it was a little wet underfoot following overnight rain.

It was an exciting start with two early forays from out wide into enemy territory setting the tone for a match played at an intense pace. But despite a positive start from our boys, it was the Cheetahs, through the boot of Fred Zeilinga, who started the scoreboard rolling inside the opening five minutes.

But the Cell C Sharks made good less than two minutes later, Lwazi Mvovo selling a dummy to score the first try of the game, under the posts. It was a wonderful passage of play, particularly in keeping the ball alive on attack. Bosch made no mistake with the conversion.

He was on song again with a 40-odd metre penalty to push the lead to seven points as we were winning all kinds of mini-battles at the tackle area.  Our defence has been outstanding this season, amongst the best in the competition, and the attitude was on point for this match.

The Cheetahs were meanwhile conceding penalties aplenty which didn’t help their cause, but certainly played into our hands. When Oupa Mohoje committed his second high tackle, the Cheetahs were down to 14 men with the Cell C Sharks determined to make good on their possession.

12 phases later and Kobus van Wyk was able to canter over in the corner. It was domination rugby and the home side were not coping well.

But never write off your opposition, and the Cheetahs were able to capitalise off possession with captain Francois Venter scoring his team’s first try on the half hour.  Zeilinga converted and it was a five point game, before he kicked a second penalty with five minutes of the half remaining to really make it a tight contest.

But there was a dire ending to the half, the hooter sounding just before the Cheetahs managed to elude the defenders and score in the corner to retake the lead, having trailed for much of the opening 40.  Zeilinga added the two as the home side took a 20-15 lead into the half-time break.

Zeilinga slotted the first points of the second half with his third penalty five minutes into the second period, but Garth April, on for Clement Poitrenaud, scythed his way through the defence in a remarking solo effort moments later that led to a second try for van Wyk. Bosch converted and it was now down to one point separating the two teams.

We retook the lead when Bosch showed his composure with a 45m penalty, and then, with less that 15 minutes remaining, an attacking lineout drive was beautifully driven over the tryline, replacement loose forward Daniel du Preez the man in possession.  The conversion from out wide saw Bosch kick the Cell C Sharks into a nine point lead, and then a further five minutes later with less than 10 minutes of the game remaining, he converted another penalty for a 35-23 lead.