The Chiefs got off to a fantastic start against the Cheetahs on Friday. They scored three converted tries in the first 20 minutes. Two of these tries came in the space of three minutes.
Tries from Donald, Sivivatu, Messam gave them a 21-3 lead. At that point it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Cheetahs.
Instead of becoming de motivated the Cheetahs were lifted by a great move from the back line that saw Ronnie Cooke going over for their first try. Willem de Wall converted the try.
Two minutes later de Waal charged over the line himself and then converted the try.
Just minutes away from half time Sivivatu went over for his second try of the night and this was the Chiefs fourth try giving them the Bonus point.
The scoreboard started ticking again in the second half when Ollie Le Roux drove over the line but his try was not converted. The Cheetahs were then only four points behind the Chiefs at 22-26.
It wasn’t long before the Chiefs struck back when Sean Hohneck dived on a loose ball and scored his try. Donald converted to take the scores to 33-22 giving the Chiefs an eleven point lead.
de Waal slotted a penalty a few minutes later but the game really picked up with 10 minutes to go when Pieters scored a try under the posts. de Waal converted the try which brought the two teams to within a point at 33-32.
In the 70th minute the Cheetahs gave away their first penalty of the night which must surely be a record. Donald went for the penalty but missed.
Two minutes from time Sivivatu made a great break down the middle of the field but passed the ball to his right when it should have gone left. The Chiefs missed an opportunity to score then but in the end it made little difference as the final scores had already been decided.
In the end Chiefs will be happy that they got the bonus point win which keeps them in the hunt for a play off place. The right team won and the Chiefs scored five tries to the Cheetahs four.
Final Score Chiefs 33 Cheetahs 32.
Scorers
Chiefs
Tries – Donald, Sivivatu 2, Messam, Hohneck
Conversions – Donald 4
Cheetahs
Tries – Cooke, de Waal, Le Roux, Pieters
Conversions – Willem de Waal 2
Penalties – Willem de Waal 2
Teams
Chiefs:
15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Anthony Tahana, 13 Niva Ta’auso, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Kristian Ormsby, 5 Sean Hohneck, 4 Jono Gibbes (c), 3 Nathan White, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Simms Davison.
Reserves: 16 Tom Willis, 17 Ben Castle, 18 Bernie Upton, 19 Steven Bates, 20 Byron Kelleher, 21 David Hill, 22 Mils Muliaina/Loki Crichton.
Cheetahs:
15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Giscard Pieters, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Keith Lowen, 11 Gaffie du Toit, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Ryno van der Merwe (c), 7 Barend Pieterse, 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Ollie le Roux.
Reserves: 16 Wian du Preez, 17 Os du Randt, 18 Ockie van Zyl, 19 Gareth Krause, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Eddie Fredericks.
