9 October 2011
Report by David van der Merwe
Witbank played host to the game between the Ford Pumas and Toyota Free State Cheetahs. Not only to rival motor manufactures but two rival predators in the animal kingdom. The Cheetahs would have taken note of the close games the Pumas has had here in Witbank and knew it would not just be show up and win. The Pumas wanted to make their last Premier division game at home a memorable one.
The Pumas came out showing that they were a different team than the one who lost by more than 80 points earlier in the season to the Cheetahs. They soon took the lead after a Charl Bezuidenhout penalty. It took the Cheetahs nearly 30 minutes before Phillip van der Walt could put them on the board with his try. Sias Ebrsohn converted to make it 7-3. The Pumas hit back from the restart and Dewald Pretorius went over for the first Pumas try. Bezuidenhout converted and added another penalty to make the halftime score 13-7 to the Pumas.
After the break the Cheetahs came out and put 10 points on the board through a Marcel van der Merwe try converted by Sias Ebershon. Ebersohn also kicked a penalty. The Pumas regained their composure and answered with a 55 minute penalty by Bezuidenhout followed by Jaco Bouwer's try. Bezuidenhout converted to make it 23-17. It looked like the Pumas would win their last home game until with 8 minutes to go Eduan van der Walt got yellow carded. Sias Ebersohn scored the winning try with 4 minutes to go and converted it to make it 24-23. Andries Strauss, the Cheetahs captain, scored the Cheetahs 5th try after the hooter had gone to make it 29-23 in the end.
The Pumas will rue that yellow card as it surely cost them the game. The Cheetahs will hope to improve on their performance if they have any chance at beating the Griquas next week at home.
Scorers:
Pumas 23 - Tries: Dewald Pretorius, Jaco Bouwer. Conversions: Carl Bezuidenhout (2). Penalties: Bezuidenhout (3).
Cheetahs 29 - Tries: Philip van der Walt, Marcel van der Merwe, Sias Ebersohn, Andries Strauss. Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (3). Penalty: Ebersohn.
