Niel Marais slotted an 80th-minute penalty to hand the Cheetahs a thrilling 26-25 win over Connacht in Bloemfontein on Saturday night. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
The Cheetahs looked to be in line for a fourth successive defeat in the Pro14, but a composed goal kick from Marais in virtually the final play of the game enabled the hosts to secure a much-needed win.
On the Cheetahs’ recently-completed overseas tour, they produced competitive performances against the Ospreys, Warriors and Cardiff Blues, but failed to come away with a win.
It seemed the Cheetahs would once again be left to wonder what could have been, but this time around they refused to capitulate, with Marais’ unerring boot enabling the Free State side to overturn a nine-point deficit.
The result strengthens the Cheetahs’ position in third spot in Conference A, and they now look increasingly likely to progress to the playoffs.
In a first half filled with running, just a solitary point separated the sides at the break, with a try to Uzair Cassiem and three penalties to Marais handing the hosts a 16-15 lead.
⚡️ Fast
😠 AggressiveUzair Cassiem capitalises on an exhilarating start by @CheetahsRugby to take the lead vs @connachtrugby 👏
Watch it live on @SkySportsRugby or @SuperSportTV.#CHEvCON #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/JzOf5zK8Jr
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) March 3, 2018
Although the Cheetahs looked good with ball in hand, they were exposed on defence at times. Connacht winger Matt Healy was able to exploit space out wide as he went over for a brace of first-half tries.
That kept Connacht in the game, and the break seemed to serve the visitors well as they took control of proceedings in the third quarter. Jack Carty first knocked over a penalty early in the second half before Eoin Griffin went over for a try that suddenly opened up a nine-point lead.
The Cheetahs soon hit back when replacement Sibhale Maxwane finished off a well-worked try, which cut the deficit to just two points heading into the latter stages of the clash.
🐆 @CheetahsRugby won’t go down without a fight 👊@Sibahle_maxwane springs through after a turnover and brings the home side back within one score of @connachtrugby.
📺 Watch live on @SkySportsRugby or @SuperSportTV.#CHEvCON #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/plgy3O19Bt
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) March 3, 2018
A key moment in the context of the clash then saw the Cheetahs strangely opt to turn down a kickable shot at goal and instead set up an attacking lineout, which they subsequently lost.
However, the Cheetahs won a crucial scrum late in the game and worked their way back into the opposition half, before Marais stepped up to kick the match-winning shot at goal.
Cheetahs – Tries: Uzair Cassiem, Sibhale Maxwane. Conversions: Niel Marais (2). Penalties: Marais (4).
Connacht – Tries: Matt Healy (2), Eoin Griffin. Conversions: Jack Carty (2). Penalties: Carty (2).
Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Francois Venter (c) , 12 Nico Lee, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Zee Mkhabela, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Tom Botha , 19 Renier Bernardo, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Sibhale Maxwane .
Connacht – 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Cian Kelleher, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 John Muldoon (c), 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 James Cannon, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Subs: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Denis Coulson, 18 Dominic Robertson McCoy, 19 Gavin Thornbury, 20 Eoghan Masterson, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Niyi Adeolokun.
Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix
