Cheetahs begin Currie Cup defence with demolition of Griffons

The Griffons had a decent first-half considering there were ten players making their Currie Cup debuts in their 23 but conceded 50 points in the second half with the gulf in class steadily widening as the match progressed.

New Cheetahs signing Sbu Nkosi and flyhalf Ethan Wentzel scored tries within the first 12 minutes. The champions then had Victor Sekekete and Jeandre Rudolph sin-binned within ten minutes of one another.

Sekekete was sent off for cynically collapsing a driving maul for which the Griffons were awarded a penalty try. Gideon van der Merwe crashed over after a series of powerful carries from the Cheetahs' forwards and a Penalty Try saw the Free Staters go into half-time with a 28-12 lead.

A try by Litha Nkula two minutes into the second half, followed by Jeandre Rudolph's powerful run and Daniel Kasende's dash down the left wing, helped the Cheetahs leverage their numerical superiority to 47-13.

The Cheetahs began to make changes to give others gametime. Replacement scrumhalf Jandre Nel scored the eighth try, Neels Volschenk got the ninth before the visitors had a rare score as Gurshwin Wehr put his name on the try column.

There was still time for Van der Merwe, Kasende, and Nel to each secure their second tries, bringing the final score to 82-20.

The scorers

For the Cheetahs:

Tries: Nkosi, Wentzel, Van der Merwe (2), penalty try, Nkula, Rudolph, Kasende (2), Nel (2), Volschenk

Cons: Wentzel (6), Lourens (3)

Yellow cards: Sekekete, J Rudolph.

For the Griffons:

Tries: Penalty try, Wehr

Cons: Pretorius

Pens: Kota (2)

Yellow card: Wenn

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Litha Nkula, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Pierre Uys, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 George Lourens.

Griffons: 15 Qamani Kota, 14 Gilroy Philander, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Keegan Schaefer, 8 Orateng Koikanyang, 7 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Moango Ngundue, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Xolani Jacobs.

Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Joshua Paris, 20 Jared Kruger, 21 Siphamandla Mingo Piti, 22 Cheslin Arendse, 23 Robbie Petzer.

Referee: Paul Mente

TMO: Ben Crouse

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