News
Cheetahs keep neighbours at bay
June 20 2008
The Cheetahs got their Currie Cup defence off to a winning start, with a clos 20-16 win over the Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.
South African Sevens star and Cheetahs number eight Schalk van der Merwe was in scintillating form, snapping up one try and generally ruling the roost at the breakdown.
JW Jonker opened the scoring after 12 minutes, capitalising off a dropped ball from a Bevin Fortuin garryowen. Jacques-Louis Potgieter added the extras.
Griquas pivot Conrad Barnard made it 7-3 with a penalty, but just before the break in a disjointed match, Van der Merwe scrambled through some awful Griquas tackling and went under the poles for his team's second score.
Barnard landed two more penalties during the third quarter to bring his team back into the reckoning at 14-9, but Chris Rossouw notched two of his own as the home team began to tire.
Griquas flanker Stephan Gerber got the try his team's effort richly deserved with five minutes to go, and Barnard made it 20-16 with the easy conversion from under the posts, but the champions closed out the victory with little difficulty.
The scorers:
For Griquas:
Try: Gerber
Con: Barnard
Pens: Barnard 3
For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Jonker, Van der Merwe
Cons: Potgieter 2
Pens: Rossouw 2
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Gavin Passens, 13 Lafras Uys, 12 Herkie Kruger (captain), 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Stephan Gerber, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Steph Robberts.
Replacements: 16 Dean Hopp, 17 Albertus Buckle, 18 Cilliers Coetzer, 19 Gareth Krause, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Jaco Bekker, 22 Egon Seconds.
Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Hendrik Meyer, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Neil Powell, 8 Schalk van der Merwe, 7 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Jaco du Toit, 17 Ronnie Uys, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Jandré Blom, 21 Chris Rossouw, 22 Hennie Daniller.
Referee: JC Fortuin
Touch judges: Chris Healey, M Mdashe