The Free State Cheetahs progressed to the semifinals of the Vodacom Cup competition on Friday when they beat the Golden Lions 30-20 at the Johannesburg Stadium on Friday, scoring two tries to the Lions' three.
The game was played in pelting rain and the visitors clinched the game in the second half when their forwards took control in all facets of play and their backs executed their changed game plan to perfection with high kicks onto the shaky Lions catchers.
The first half undoubtedly belonged to the Golden Lions, who showed better structure and used their possession more effectively. Their forwards were in control and at 15-6 they looked good value for a win.
The home side led 15-12 at the break after two good tries by wing Henno Mentz - and the scoreline at that stage doesn’t do justice to the Lions who, unfortunately for them, kept transgressing with Free State flyhalf Louis Strydom punishing them with four well-taken penalties.
Strydom evened matters shortly after the break with another penalty. And then, playing a possession game in the second half, Free State started taking control and also enjoyed more territory.
The Lions’ persistence in running when kicks were the better option was punished when Springbok Sevens Springbok Philip Snyman was fed on the blind side after sustained attack and good patience at ruck time by the Free State. From 12-3 and later 15-6 down they had fought back to lead 20-15 after Strydom missed his first kick of the night.
This was increased to 23-15 after a side entry into a ruck by the Lions - and the home side had a mountain to climb.
A good follow-up try by wing Kholo Ramashala, with Strydom converting from touch made it 30-15, and despite Johan van Deventer scoring from one of the few good Lions mauls in the second half, the home side, down 30-20, still had to score twice with only five minutes left.
Scorers:
Golden Lions: Tries: Henno Mentz (2), Johan van Deventer. Conversions: Earl Rose. Penalty: Rose.
Free State Cheetahs: Tries: Philip Snyman, Kholo Ramashala. Conversion: Louis Strydom: Penalties: Strydom (6)
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