Hogs leap to the top after Cheetahs win

Calistus Kolantsho | Monday August 18, 2014 11:33

 

The match started on a high note with both sides pushing for an early score. It was Cheetahs who got the first try through full back Lekgobo Bafana in the seventh minute.

Hogs nearly registered points a few minutes later after being awarded a penalty but they missed the target. The hosts were given another penalty in the 12th minute and managed to score.

With Hogs’ tails up, they converted a try in the 18th minute to take a 10-7 lead. Bafana then restored parity with a well-taken kick.

Hogs retained their advantage when Jeremy Dobrosky converted a penalty in the 27th minute after Cheetahs’ Lebogang Lepodise committed a foul. The hosts were ahead 16-10 at half time.

The second stanza started with Cheetahs playing with one-man short after Lepodise was sent to the sin bin.

Hogs flanker, Stefan Van Zyl managed to break away from Cheetahs backline and scored a try that sealed the 23-10 win. The visitors were forced to make a substitution removing Khumo Ntwaetsile and replaced him with Oneal Tumelo with five minutes to go.

The visitors failed to apply pressure when attacking. Cheetahs coach, Kabo Baitsile expressed his disappointment about some of the referee’s decisions.

He told Monitor Sport that Hogs players were offside in some instances but the referee did not take action.

Baitsile said they expected a tough encounter against Hogs. He said they are the toughest opponents in the league. “We knew that we are going to struggle against Hogs. The result is not a shock to us.

We failed to utilise chances that we got. We just have to go back and work hard because our next assignment is against another tough opponent, UB Rhinos,” said Baitsile.

For his part, Hogs coach, Andrew Paxinos said after Cheetahs scored their first try, he knew his charges would get back into the game. He stated the absence of Eddie Ernest in the Cheetahs line up was a visible and that worked to their advantage. He considers Ernest the best lock in the country.

“When you play against Cheetahs you have to be physically strong. My players were on their element today. I am impressed with the result,” Paxinos said.