Jaguars humble Cheetahs to reach final
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday July 24, 2023 16:00
The win set Jaguars' date with Gaborone Hogs in a final to be played this coming weekend. The two sides met again in the final last season. Hogs qualified for the final after beating UB Rhinos at home.
Cheetahs controlled the momentum of the game from the first whistle. However, Jaguars were up to the task. The hosts were able to threaten Cheetahs with fast paced exchanges towards the goal line.
From the opposition's 22-meter line, Cheetahs number eight, Ketshidile Matenanga, worked the line to breakthrough and put scrum half, Bame Motlhabani in space, without wasting time, made a brilliant pass to hooker, Martin Simon to score a first try of the game in the 10th minute.
Cheetahs were now leading 5-0.
Jaguars were awarded a penalty a few minutes later and Tonic Ndoda's kick missed the target by a whisker.
The two sides played lovely rugby, and fast paced left wing, Stan Chikuma bust into attack only to be stopped on his tracks by Cheetahs defence. Jaguars made a strong comeback, with an offload and brilliant ball exchanges inside the Cheetahs goal area. The hard work was rewarded with a try to settle the score line at 5-5.
Cheetahs were at it again increasing the lead through a long kick by fly half, Kagiso Molefhi, forcing a try to extend the lead to 10-5 after the conversion was not scored. Ndoda put his name on the score sheet for Jaguars by the half time break to make it 10-8. After the break, Cheetahs continued where they left off, piling pressure on their opponents and scoring another try, extending the lead to 17-14.
Jaguars did not settle, and with fresh legs added, they managed to pull a surprise against Cheetahs taking the game from them to win the match 21-17. Speaking to Sport Monitor, Cheetahs left lock, Eddie Ernest said they knew Jaguars were a fast side and the way to hold them was to use their strength, which are the forwards.
He said unfortunately the forwards were not able to catch the ball. “We were not securing the balls according to the plan. We lost the game because we thought we were done, so the guys became complacent.
Jaguars players are young, they have the energy, and can run the entire game, which is something we do not have,” he said. Ernest said the loss was a heartbreak because Cheetahs last won the league in 2017 and they thought this was a chance for them to make a comeback.
Jaguars team manager, Feddy Mutenheri said the two sides played good rugby, unfortunately his players failed to utilise all the chances. “Some of our players were not available; one of them got injured during the last match against Cheetahs. Our centre is now based in New Zealand. Basically we did not have our normal fly half. One of our forwards has transferred to Maun,” he said.