Ospreys add to Cheetahs’ woes

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The Cheetahs slumped to a 31-14 defeat against the Ospreys in Bloemfontein on Saturday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports. 

While the game was played at a high speed, it was low on quality as both sides made mistakes and handling errors.

Unfortunately for the Cheetahs, the visitors managed to reduce their error rate as the match progressed, and were also aided by some good finishing when they created the odd scoring chance.

It was a proper arm-wrestle in the opening 20 minutes, but the Cheetahs looked calm, composed and competently defended in their own half. That said, the Ospreys didn’t offer much by way of attack. The Welsh side didn’t create any scoring opportunities despite having a favourable stake in possession and pinning the Cheetahs back.

The Ospreys initially struggled with the Cheetahs’ ferocious competing at the breakdown, but the visitors did open the scoring in the 24th minute when Dan Evans sold a dummy to breach the line after the Cheetahs had conceded two penalties to take play to the 5m line.

They doubled that advantage soon after through flank Olly Cracknell. Having kept the ball alive with some slick handling, the Ospreys were lining up out wide and any one of four players could easily have scored, but it was Cracknell who barged over.

The hosts started the second stanza with aplomb, as straight from the kick-off, Dries Swanepoel scored a vintage Cheetahs try born from an early linebreak by William Small-Smith aided by fantastic support play.

But all their good work was undone as the Ospreys hit back with 17 unanswered points to leave the Cheetahs reeling at 31-7 down.

Under pressure close to the line, the hosts tried to run the ball out of the 22. But Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric made a turnover and caught the Cheetahs defence napping when he took a quick tap to score.

Centre Cory Allen was next to score, with replacement Sam Davies adding the conversion before nailing a penalty.

The Cheetahs did have the final say with a late try by Reinach Venter off the back of a lineout drive, but by then Ospreys were already assured of an all-important bonus-point win that keeps them alive in the title race.

Cheetahs – Tries: Dries Swanepoel, Reinach Venter. Conversions: Tian Schoeman (2).
Ospreys – Tries: Dan Evans, Olly Cracknell, Justin Tipuric, Cory Allen. Conversions: Luke Price (3), Sam Davies. Penalty: Davies.

Cheetahs – 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Shaun Venter (c), 8 Henco Venter, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Charles Marais.
Subs: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Aranos Coetzee, 18 Reinach Venter, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Justin Basson, 22 Rudy Paige, 23 Louis Fouché.

Ospreys – 15 Dan Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Keenan Giles, 10 Luke Price, 9 Aled Davies, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Nicky Smith.
Subs: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Dan Lydia, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Matthew Aubrey, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Luke Morgan.

Photo: @Ospreys/Twitter

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Mariette Adams