Cheetahs spring surprise on Waratahs
Source: Agencies |
March 20, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WINGERS Philip Snyman and Sarel Pretorius scored tries as South Africa's previously winless Cheetahs caused the upset of the season, beating the New South Wales Waratahs 23-3 in Super 15 yesterday.
The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs, losers in four earlier matches this season, took the lead in the 14th minute in Sydney and were never headed, posting their first Super rugby win outside South Africa.
The Waratahs were expected to improve their two-win, one-loss record but poor set-pieces, weakness at breakdowns and handling errors gave the Cheetahs a stunning upset.
Flyhalf Sian Ebersohn kicked three penalties from as many attempts to keep the Cheetahs ahead until tries by Snyman and Pretorius clinched victory.
Elsewhere, Auckland Blues ran in three tries in the last 14 minutes to win a hard-fought New Zealand derby against the Wellington Hurricanes 41-17 at Eden Park and the Canterbury Crusaders ran rampant with five second-half tries to storm to a 44-13 victory over the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin.
Hurricanes skipper Andrew Hore, one of three players celebrating his 100th Super rugby match, was sent to the sin bin after 64 minutes and the Blues scored two tries in his absence to turn a tight contest into a comfortable home win.
Winger Rene Ranger and standoff Stephen Brett gave the Blues a flying start with two tries in the first 20 minutes and replacement back Lachie Munro, scrumhalf Alby Mathewson and center Jared Payne sealed the victory in the final quarter.
The Hurricanes, who scored their only try from close range through prop Neemia Tialata in the first half, had looked in with a chance of coming from behind until Hore got his yellow card for using his hands to disrupt Blues ball at a ruck.
In Dunedin, the Highlanders were left ruing some poor penalty kicking after holding their own in a tight first 40 minutes before tries from Kieran Read, Kahn Fotuali'i, Wyatt Crockett and a brace from Israel Dagg put them firmly in their place.
Crusaders center Robbie Fruean scored the only try before the break and flyhalf Dan Carter chipped in with two penalties and three conversions before giving way to Matt Berquist, who added another conversion.
The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs, losers in four earlier matches this season, took the lead in the 14th minute in Sydney and were never headed, posting their first Super rugby win outside South Africa.
The Waratahs were expected to improve their two-win, one-loss record but poor set-pieces, weakness at breakdowns and handling errors gave the Cheetahs a stunning upset.
Flyhalf Sian Ebersohn kicked three penalties from as many attempts to keep the Cheetahs ahead until tries by Snyman and Pretorius clinched victory.
Elsewhere, Auckland Blues ran in three tries in the last 14 minutes to win a hard-fought New Zealand derby against the Wellington Hurricanes 41-17 at Eden Park and the Canterbury Crusaders ran rampant with five second-half tries to storm to a 44-13 victory over the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin.
Hurricanes skipper Andrew Hore, one of three players celebrating his 100th Super rugby match, was sent to the sin bin after 64 minutes and the Blues scored two tries in his absence to turn a tight contest into a comfortable home win.
Winger Rene Ranger and standoff Stephen Brett gave the Blues a flying start with two tries in the first 20 minutes and replacement back Lachie Munro, scrumhalf Alby Mathewson and center Jared Payne sealed the victory in the final quarter.
The Hurricanes, who scored their only try from close range through prop Neemia Tialata in the first half, had looked in with a chance of coming from behind until Hore got his yellow card for using his hands to disrupt Blues ball at a ruck.
In Dunedin, the Highlanders were left ruing some poor penalty kicking after holding their own in a tight first 40 minutes before tries from Kieran Read, Kahn Fotuali'i, Wyatt Crockett and a brace from Israel Dagg put them firmly in their place.
Crusaders center Robbie Fruean scored the only try before the break and flyhalf Dan Carter chipped in with two penalties and three conversions before giving way to Matt Berquist, who added another conversion.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
