Cheetahs condemn Bulls to third straight Currie Cup defeat

The Cheetahs made it three out of three in the Currie Cup with an emphatic 32-7 win over the Bulls in Bloemfontein on Friday in a game they dominated from the outset. 

RECAP | Cheetahs v Bulls

The first half saw both sides feeling each other out in the early stages, but the Cheetahs opened the scoring in the 10th minute thanks to a penalty from veteran scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar that gave the home side a 3-0 lead.

The Cheetahs kept up their pressure on the Bulls' defence, and an excellent maul saw flanker Gideon van der Merwe crash over in the 20th minute.

Pienaar added the extras as the home side extended their lead to 10-0.

The Bulls then scored one of the tries of the season as slick handling put Jan-Hendrik Wessels in space down the wing. Showing impressive pace, he managed to outstrip the defence to bring them back into the contest with a converted try to cut the Cheetahs' lead to 10-7 in the 24th minute. 

Wessel was sent to the bin for cynical play soon after, and the Cheetahs used their extra man and impressive mauling to good use as hooker Marnus van der Merwe secured their second try of the match.

With Pienaar unable to convert, the home side led 15-7 with 10 minutes left in the first half. 

While the Cheetahs had an excellent chance to extend their lead on the stroke of half-time, the Bulls' defence held out as the home side took a 15-7 lead into the shed at the break. 

It wasn't only the Cheetahs' rolling maul that was impressive, as the Bloemfontein outfit were prepared to give the ball air and work the space at every opportunity.

That paid dividends in the 52nd minute when after a period of possession, flyhalf Reinhardt Fortuin saw space out on the left and aimed a perfectly weighted kick into the hands of winger Munier Hartzenberg who sped over.

Pienaar couldn't add the extras, but the Cheetahs now led 20-7. 

That became 27-7 in the 66th minute as the Bulls simply couldn't deal with another excellent rolling maul from the home side, allowing Sibabalo Qoma to score a converted try. 

Cohen Jasper scored the fifth try for the home side after the final whistle as the Cheetahs' bonus point win secured their position at the top of the Currie Cup log. 

Scores

Cheetahs 32 (15)

Tries: Gideon van der Merwe, Marnus van der Merwe, Munier Hartzenberg, Sibabalo Qoma, Cohen Jasper

Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2)

Penalties: Ruan Pienaar

Bulls 7 (7)

Try: Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Conversion: Franco Knoetze

Teams

Cheetahs

15 Cohen Jaseper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira 

Substitutes: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Lawrence Victor, 19 Sibabalo Qoma, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 David Brits, 23 Tapiwa Mafura 

Bulls

15 Franco Knoetze, 14 Quewin Nortje, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Kabelo Mokoena, 10 Chris Barent Smit, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Mihhali Mosi, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Jacques Du Plessis, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Joe Van Zyl, 17 Jacques Van Rooyen, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Juan Van Der Westhuizen, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Bernard Van Der Linde, 22 Adriaan Joubert, 23 Juan Mostert