The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs crushed the Platinum Leopards 57-0 (half-time 24-0) in their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division match at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Info Courtesy of Supersport

The Cheetahs’ performance was by no means perfect, especially in the first half when they battled to maintain much momentum thanks to handling errors, but they never looked like losing the game to a Leopards

The Leopards did not help their cause as they had two players sin-binned with eighthman Riaan Swanepoel and wing Deon Scholtz both falling foul of referee Jason Jaftha

The visitors held their own for the first 10 minutes of the match as they dominated possession but failed to score.

In the 12th minute hooker Adriaan Strauss rumbled over for the first try of the match.

Six minutes later loosehead prop Coenie Oosthuizen’s marvellous season continued as the burly front-ranker dotted down for his fifth try in this year’s Currie Cup.

The Cheetahs were slowly getting into their rhythm and their third try duly arrived in the 34th minute thanks to a superb piece of interplay between the Ebersohn brothers as flyhalf Sias provided the scoring pass for Robert with the outside centre scoring between the posts.

With time running out in the half flank Hendro Scholtz went over in the corner for the bonus-point try. Half time score 24-0.

The Cheetahs began the second half in impressive fashion as they scored from the kick-off with lock Francois Uys crashing over for a five-pointer.

Five minutes later Philip van der Walt added his name to the growing list of try-scorers before Snyman scored the try of the match.

In the 54th minute Snyman bumped off two defenders before diving over in the right-hand corner despite the attentions of the Leopards’ cover defence.

With 12 minutes left in the contest Snyman went over in the corner once again to raise the half-century of points for the home side before replacement prop WP Nel wrapped up the scoring after the hooter had sounded.

Inside centre Meyer Bosman enjoyed a successful evening with the boot as he slotted six conversions after taking over the kicking duties from Sias Ebersohn after the flyhalf had missed a conversion and a penalty early in the contest.

Scorers

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – Tries: Philip Snyman (2), Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen, Robert Ebersohn, Hendro Scholtz, Francois Uys, Philip van der Walt, WP Nel; Conversions: Meyer Bosman (6).