Cheetahs snatch win after hooter
Skipper Badenhorst celebrates last minute try Photo Hilton Kotze
The Free State Cheetahs scored a try 3 minutes after the hooter to secure a nail-biting 25-23 win over the Blue Bulls at Loftus.
The first half was full of errors from both sides and numerous penalties for ruck infringements.
Although the Cheetahs dominated possession and territory for most of the first half, they could only manage three penalties through the boot of fly-half Louis Strydom.
The Bulls on the other hand turned all their opportunities into points. First through a Jacques-Louis Potgieter penalty and then through a try by Derick Kuun. After a great maul by the Blue Bulls they took it down the line and Kuun was there to drive it over. Potgieter added the conversion and a further two penalties to put the Blue Bulls 16-9 ahead at half-time.
The Cheetahs continued to dominate possession in the second half but yet again failed to convert it into significant points. Louis Strydom managed only two more penalty conversions before he was replaced by Sias Ebersohn. A move that ultimately won the Cheetahs the game.
Coenie Oosthuizen from the Free State were denied two tries by the TMO and the Cheetahs had only themselves to blame for failing to convert a lot of other opportunities into points. They knocked numerous balls close to the line and the Blue Bulls defense was just too strong so close to the line.
The Bulls then looked like having the game in the bag when they scored a try through Stefan Watermeyer. Leading 23-15 with 10minutes remaining.
The Cheetahs had other plans though and fought back hard with their forwards. Securing a penalty through Sias Ebersohn with 3 minutes remaining. They continued to build phase after phase by carrying it up with heir forwards and were rewarded with a Skipper Badenhorst try in the corner three minutes after the hooter sounded. Sias Ebersohn slotted over a great conversion from the touchline to break Blue Bulls’ hearts.
BLUE BULLS 23-25 CHEETAHS
Other results for the day:
u19’s: Blue Bulls 35-28 Cheetahs
u21’s: Blue Bulls 32-34 Cheetahs
[james@rugby15.co.za]
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