Brumbies hold off fast-finishing Cheetahs
The Brumbies beat a fast-finishing Cheetahs in their Super Rugby match at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
|||Bloemfontein - The Brumbies beat a fast-finishing Cheetahs 25-18 in their Super Rugby match at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Brumbies dominated the first hour of the encounter as they built on their 15-8 lead at the interval, but ultimately the hosts could not manage more than two tries on the day to the three of the Aussies.
The Brumbies would be pleased with their haul of four-points from the match, while the Cheetahs managed a bonus point for finishing within seven.
The Brumbies hit the lead in the fourth minute with a well-worked try. Despite good work at the breakdown from the Cheetahs, the Brumbies made an intercept and waiting on the wing was number eight Ita Vaea who cantered his way over the line. Brumbies flyhalf Christian Lealiifano added the extra two to make it 7-0 to the visitors.
Lealiifano extended his side’s lead to 10-0 with a penalty in the 11th minute.
Cheetahs flyhalf Daniel Marais got his side on the board with a penalty in the 20th minute to make it 10-3.
The Cheetahs pulled within two of their Aussie opponents with a try in the 24th minute. Flanker Uzair Cassiem barged over for a try following a strong carry by Boom Prinsloo. Marais missed the chance to square the match as his conversion was off target and the Brumbies held onto a 10-8 advantage.
Brumbies fullback Aidan Toua scored the second try for his team in the 35th minute. Toua sprinted over the line after a good move by the Brumbies. The conversion was wide by Lealiifano but the Brumbies led 15-8, which remained the score until the half-time whistle.
Lealiifano added another three points for the Brumbies in the 44th minute to make it 18-8.
The Brumbies scored their third try of the afternoon in the 57th minute, when prop Ben Alexander barged over the line after a quick offload from a teammate. Centre Matt Toomua took the conversion notch up a 25-8 scoreline.
The Cheetahs racked up their second try of the match in the 74th minute. Clayton Blommetjies sold a brilliant dummy before releasing Sergeal Petersen who dived over for the try. Marais was on target with the conversion to make it 25-15.
At the death, the Cheetahs were awarded a penalty and Marais obliged from straight in front to reel in the score to 25-18 just before the final whistle.
Scorers:
Brumbies 25 (15)
Tries: Ita Vaea, Aidan Toua, Ben Alexander. Conversions: Christian Lealiifano, Matt Toomua. Penalties: Lealiifano (2)
Cheetahs 18 (8)
Tries: Uzair Cassiem, Sergeal Petersen. Conversion: Marais. Penalties: Marais (2).
African News Agency