Strong second half performance by Free State Cheetahs against Province gets win - Currie Cup
The South African provincial rugby union side, Free State Cheetahs has earned their second win of the 2011 ABSA Currie Cup tournament, as they defeated the relatively experienced Western Province
side, 28 – 22 at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein on Saturday, August 6.
Province was leading 13 – 9 at half-time before the hosts recovered strongly to register their second win in the tournament and maintains their position in the middle of the table. Free State
is currently placed at the 5th position in the table with their 11 points, coming from their four matches, which they have played in the competition so far.
Cheetahs kicked started the match but they suffered an early blow in the game as their starting fullback Hennie Daniller was forced off the field due to the injury, in the 3rd minute
of the game. Philip Burger substituted for Daniller at the fullback position.
Province’s side was impressive in their ball possession and created some space to run the ball up the field. They were first to score points on the scorecard after their fly half, Demetri
Catrakilis, successfully kicked the penalty in the 8th minute of the game. Couple of minutes later, their outside centre, John Sadie, scored the first try of the game which was followed by Catrakilis conversion to leave the hosts trailing by 10
points.
Catrakilis missed a drop goal in the 18th minute, but scored his second penalty of the game in the 19th minute to take the scorecard reading 13 – 0.
The hosts were able to retain the ball as they slowly pressed for territory possession. In the last 15 minutes of the first half, Cheetahs dominate the possession, and score 9 points to reduce
their deficit to just four points.
Cheetahs fly half Sias Ebersohn scored three consecutive penalties at the 25th, 38th and 40th minute of the game, to take the scorecard reading 13 – 9, at the
end of the half.
Visitors started the second half strongly, as they extended their lead courtesy of their fly half Catrakilis’s penalty. However, Ebersohn scored two consecutive penalties in the 42nd
and 44th minute of the game, to bring the point difference down to a point.
Ebersohn’s 66th minute penalty put the Cheetahs in the lead for the first time in the match. Couple of minutes later, Province’s Adriaan Fondse was sin binned. Cheetahs capitalized
on the opportunity to extend their lead courtesy of the Ebersohn’s 68th minute penalty.
Province’s recovered strongly to win two penalties in a span of two minutes, with Catrakilis scoring on the second after missing the first one. For Cheetahs their substitute player Corne Uys
scored a try in the 74th minute of the game, which was followed by Ebersohn’s conversion, to take the scorecard reading 28 – 19.
Catrakilis scored his fifth and last penalty of the game in the 77th minute of the game to reduce their lead to six points. The penalty shortly has created an interest in the game,
as the Province was just a try and conversion away from winning the game.
Ebersohn scored 23 points in the game, which comprised of 7 penalties and a conversion.
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