Rugby

Cheetahs sail past Kings

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Nico Lee scores one of his three tries

Nico Lee scored a hat-trick as the Cheetahs beat the Kings 45-21 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday to win the first South African Pro14 derby. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.

It was far from a high-octane encounter, but the competition’s first local derby got off to a lively start as brittle defensive work saw both teams scoring early tries. Ultimately, though, the Cheetahs proved too good for the struggling Kings as Rory Duncan’s men picked up maximum log points to make up some lost ground – as predicted – in the Conference A standings.

Lee produced a brilliant solo performance, while flyhalf Fred Zeilinga succeeded with seven goal-kicks out of seven.

The last time these sides met, they matched each other pound for pound when the Cheetahs snatched a last-gasp 21-20 win in what was both teams’ Super Rugby swansong. Fast forward six months and the Cheetahs have improved tremendously; so much so that they are prospective Pro14 playoff contenders.

However, the Kings have regressed in equal measure, in large part due to a mass player exodus. Coach Deon Davids’ side has now slumped to 12 successive defeats and remains the only team yet to register a victory this season.

The Cheetahs moved the ball around from the start, but poor handling immediately stifled their first attack as a knock-on led to a Kings scrum. But the visitors affected a turnover and despite the Kings’ initial defensive resistance, fullback Clayton Blommetjies wriggled his way through the traffic to score.

Zeilinga added the conversion, but the lead did not last long. Knowing there was no risk because his team was playing under an advantage, Kings fullback Yaw Penxe moved from the back to score a well-worked try. After a couple of phases, Penxe took a pass at first-receiver, sold a dummy to beat Zeilinga and then used sheer pace to round two would-be tacklers before dotting down.

But that was to be the Kings’ last points of the half as they capitulated under relentless pressure from the visitors. After a poor showing against Treviso last week, the Cheetahs’ finishing skills was much better in this game.

After a penalty put the Cheetahs back in front, Lee crashed over from close quarters for their second try, before scrumhalf Shaun Venter darted over. Zeilinga sent over both conversions to hand the Cheetahs a 24-7 lead at half-time.

The Cheetahs set out to seize complete control of proceedings after the resumption. Admittedly, though, they extended their advantage in opportunistic fashion when Lee scored his second in the 43rd minute. When a poor pass by Kings scrumhalf Rowan Gouws didn’t go to hand, wing Makazole Mapimpi pounced and executed a no-look offload to Lee, who ran in unopposed.

Unfortunately for the Cheetahs, poor discipline let them down again as they conceded three yellow cards in the last 30 minutes. Lock Justin Basson was sent off for a cynical offence close to his own tryline and the Kings made full use of the numerical advantage with flank Eitel Bredenkamp forcing his way over the line. Next to go, were replacements Charles Marais and Junior Pokomela for similar offences. Those indiscretions ensured the game ended as lively as it started.

The Kings added a third try through Stephan Coetzee, but the Cheetahs hit back when Lee completed his hat-trick and Jacques du Toit rounded off the scoring with their sixth try.

Kings – Tries: Yaw Penxe, Eitel Bredenkamp, Stefan Coetzee. Conversions: Oliver Zono (3).
Cheetahs – Tries: Clayton Blommetjies, Nico Lee (3), Shaun Venter, Jacques du Toit. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (6). Penalty: Zeilinga.

Kings – 15 Yaw Penxe, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Martin du Toit, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Oliver Zono, 9 Rowan Gouws, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Tienie Burger, 6 Eital Bredenkamp, 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Schalk Ferreira (c).
Subs: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Johan Smith, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Lindokuhle Welemu, 20 Freddy Ngoza, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 Ntabeni Dukisa, 23 Harlon Klaasen.

Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Niel Marais, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Tier Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (c), 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Zee Mhkabela, 23 AJ Coertzen.

Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix