The Toyota Free State Cheetahs clinched a dramatic 34 / 34 draw on Saturday against the Cell C Sharks in Bloemfontein to finish 4th on the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division Log, and in doing so, they booked themselves a Semifinal clash against the Xerox Golden Lions next weekend in Johannesburg.
The Free State Cheetahs scored 2 converted tries in the in last 5 minutes at the Free State Stadium, while replacement fullback Neil Marais slotted the vital conversion after the final hooter to draw the 2 teams level in Bloemfontein and at the same time shatter the Cell C Sharks’ playoff hopes. The Free State Cheetahs finished 2 points above the Cel C Sharks on the final Log with 24 points.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls finished 2nd on the Log after they edged the Steval Pumas 25 / 24 in Nelspruit on Friday and they now meet 3rd-placed DHL Western Province in Pretoria in the playoffs. The Blue Bulls versus WP clash is set for this coming Friday evening at Loftus Versfeld.
In Cape Town, DHL Western Province finished their league commitments with a bonus-point 45 / 14 win over the Eastern Province Kings. Runaway Log leaders, the Xerox Golden Lions, completed the round-robin phase unbeaten with 10 wins after their much changed side defeated the ORC Griquas 29 / 19 in Johannesburg.
Xerox Golden Lions (14) 29 / 19 (14) ORC Griquas:
The Xerox Golden Lions made 13 changes to their team and tried to assert their dominance, but the new combinations struggled to get into their rhythm initially. They improved as the match went on and managed to secure a bonus-point win, which meant the Golden Lions finished the regular season unbeaten.
ORC Griquas flank RJ Liebenberg was shown a Yellow Card for a dangerous tackle on Golden Lions scrumhalf Ricky Schroeder.
Springbok Sevens internationals Sampie Mastriet and Kwagga Smith both scored a try each for the Golden Lions, while outside centre Jacques Nel stole the show of the 2 Nel-brothers by scoring 2 tries. He is the brother of Blitzbok Ruhan Nel, who played opposite him in the No 13 jersey for Griquas. Flyhalf Jaco van der Walt slotted 3 conversions and also succeeded with a penalty.
The visiting Griquas team scored 3 tries, 1 each by No 8 Carel Greeff, scrumhalf and captain Tian Meyer and replacement No 9 Dylan Frylinck. Fullback Gouws Prinsloo converted 2 tries.
Scorers:
Xerox Golden Lions:
- Tries: Sampie Mastriet (1), Kwagga Smith (1), Jacques Nel (2)
- Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3)
- Penalties: Jaco van der Walt (1)
ORC Griquas:
- Tries: Carel Greeff (1), Tian Meyer (1), Dylan Frylinck (1)
- Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (2)
Toyota Free State Cheetahs (17) 34 / 34 (13) Cell C Sharks:
The Cell C Sharks were trailing by 2 points in 5th place on the Log at the start of this match, an encounter they had to win if they were to advance to the playoffs. With just 5 minutes of play left and from a penalty deep in their own half, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs took a tap and sent Rayno Benjamin away on a terrific run for his 2nd try.
And then, as they piled on the pressure, the Cell C Sharks conceded another penalty which gave the Free State Cheetahs a lineout 5m out. Gerard Olivier was driven over and with Neil Marais kicking the 2 conversions, the home team snatched an unlikely draw and with that the last Semifinal place offer.
Benjamin (2), Boom Prinsloo and Gerhard Olivier were the try scorers for the Bloemfontein side. Flyhalf Sias Ebersohn kicked 2 conversions and also 2 penalties, while substitute Neil Marais succeeded with the 2 important late conversions to draw the teams level.
The Cell C Sharks scored 4 tries, through Ettienne Oosthuizen (lock), Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Paul Jordaan (centre) and Garth April (fullback). Joe Pietersen converted 1 try and added 4 successful penalties.
Scorers:
Toyota Free State Cheetahs:
- Tries: Rayno Benjamin (2), Boom Prinsloo (1), Gerhard Olivier (1)
- Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (2), Neil Marais (2)
- Penalties: Sias Ebersohn(2)
Cell C Sharks:
- Tries: Ettienne Oosthuizen (1), Cobus Reinach (1), Paul Jordaan (1), Garth April (1)
- Conversions: Joe Pietersen (1)
- Penalties: Joe Pietersen (4)
Steval Pumas (7) 24 / 25 (13) Vodacom Blue Bulls:
The Vodacom Blue Bulls led 13 / 7 at halftime and were 25 / 10 in the lead at one stage, however the Steval Pumas produced a stirring fightback in the last period of the 2nd half to almost cause an upset.
The home side opened the scoring in the 3rd minute through flank Marnus Schoeman, who picked the ball up from the base of a ruck and crashed over. The Blue Bulls hit back when flank Deon Stegmann finished off a rolling maul. Fullback Warrick Gelant then started a move in his own half which saw left wing Jamba Ulengo diving over as the Blue Bulls went 10 / 7 ahead. Flyhalf Tian Schoeman slotted a penalty to give the visitors a 6 point lead at halftime.
Steval Pumas pivot Justin van Staden narrowed the gap after the break with his penalty, but the Blue Bulls took control when Deon Stegmann and Jamba Ulengo each scored for a 2nd time in the match. The Pumas fought back impressively and they scored, 1st through wing Rosko Specman and then through lock Rudi Mathee (after the siren), to make the final score 25 / 24 in favour of the Vodacom Blue Bulls.
Scorers:
Steval Pumas:
- Tries: Marnus Schoeman (1), Rosko Specman (1), Rudi Mathee (1)
- Conversions: Justin van Staden (3)
- Penalties: Justin van Staden (1)
Vodacom Blue Bulls:
- Tries: Deon Stegmann (2), Jamba Ulengo (2)
- Conversions: Tian Schoeman (1)
- Penalties: Tian Schoeman (1)
DHL Western Province (24) 45 / 14 (14) Eastern Province Kings:
DHL Western Province took the lead after just 3 minutes when Nizaam Carr took advantage of some hesitant defending. Fullback Scott van Breda kept the EP Kings in the game with 3 penalties.
Captain Juan de Jongh scored his team’s 2nd try shortly after Van Breda’s 3rd penalty, when he rounded off a quick tap from a kickable penalty. Flyhalf Robert du Preez added the extras to make it 17 / 9.
Scrumhalf Godlen Masimla easily broke for a converted try but the EP Kings hit back through an Enrico Acker (No 9) try. Western Province secured the outcome with 2 tries in the 2nd half. 1St fullback Dillyn Leyds dotted down and then substitute Justin Benn, for WP to take a 38 / 14 lead. Another late try from Leyds wrapped up a comfortable 45 / 14 win for Western Province.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province:
- Tries: Nizaam Carr (1), Juan de Jongh (1), Godlen Masimla (1), Dillyn Leyds (2), Justin Benn (1)
- Conversions: Robert du Preez (4), Kurt Coleman (2)
- Penalties: Robert du Preez (1)
Eastern Province Kings:
- Tries: Enrico Acker (1)
- Penalties: Scott van Breda (3)