Cheetahs stay with big boys
26 Oct 2012
SIMON BORCHARDT saw the Free State Cheetahs retain their Currie Cup Premier Division status with a 16-6 win against the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Having won the first promotion-relegation match 53-14 in Bloemfontein, the Cheetahs just needed to avoid defeat by 40-plus points, or get a bonus point, to stay in the top flight.
EP were never going to climb their Mount Everest after Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske opted to field his strongest line-up and heavy rain began to fall early in the match. Still, the hosts produced a far better performance than last week and may have won had they not played 50 minutes of the match with 14 men.
The Kings had 60% possession in the opening 10 minutes, with flyhalf George Whitehead kicking two penalties for a 6-0 lead, and their scrum was dominant.
The Cheetahs were frustrated by the wet conditions, which hampered their expansive game, and their mood didn’t improve when flyhalf Sias Ebersohn missed two penalties.
The Kings then suffered a major setback when scrumhalf Falie Oelschig was harshly red-carded for a punch on the half-hour mark, but they managed to go into the break with their lead intact.
Both sides had try-scoring opportunities in the third quarter, but as had been the case throughout the match, poor handling let them down.
Replacement wing Nico Scheepers finally got the Cheetahs on the board with a penalty in the 61st minute, and that was followed soon after by a game-breaking try from Sias Ebersohn.
Scheepers’ touchline conversion came in off the left-hand upright and he added two late penalties to seal the win.
129 Comments
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26 Oct 2012, 21:04 pm
@stormersboy-98:
CU next tuesday, Elvis
26 Oct 2012, 21:05 pm
Prooooooooooovince!!!!!!!
26 Oct 2012, 21:05 pm
@KeurboomPark-99: I am not big enough buddy – so well used it would be like throwing a cocktail sausage down a passage.
26 Oct 2012, 21:06 pm
@Dusky-103:
Dam Busters
26 Oct 2012, 21:06 pm
@Diplomatic oeK-93: There is no support in PE for rugby, a couple of well known schools, no more than 7 and a few old well known rugby clubs. Nothing happening in Border-once with Gert Smal a tough team at home, now nothing, SWD–once with Ludeke and Meyer and OK team, now just rubbish. No money there and more theft from the unions than anywhere else
No sleeping rugby giant there in EP, NO WAY HOSÉ
26 Oct 2012, 21:09 pm
@Dusky-103: speak for yourself
26 Oct 2012, 21:09 pm
Kings to confirm our mediocre status in 2013. Die bol is nie rond nie korrelkop!!!
26 Oct 2012, 21:09 pm
My mom wants to meet HM. Help him soothe his piles.
26 Oct 2012, 21:12 pm
@stormersboy-90:
Super Rugby will be expanded. Of that we both have no doubt. Whether it is S15 or S16.
I am not in favour of the conference system. Never have been. It works for the Aussies and no-one else.
In a super 16 format, each team plays each other once, top 4 qualify, done and dusted. The tournament won’t then have to go on after the completion of the incoming tours. I reckon we could start the comp middle Feb with the final end May which will be in time for the incoming tours. The Rugby Championship starts earlier – well in the spot it used to accomodate.
And credence will be given back to the Currie Cup as players are available earlier.
The Aussies complicated things. It is now time to call the shots and get back to basics.
Message is for SARU. Let the Aussies look after themselves.
26 Oct 2012, 22:04 pm
Expected result, but hey the lions are out of Sr for 2yrs! You heard it here first folks…
26 Oct 2012, 22:11 pm
The Kings are dead.
26 Oct 2012, 23:04 pm
@katman-111:
Long live The Kings.
26 Oct 2012, 23:11 pm
The Kings aint dead, they are on life support.
26 Oct 2012, 23:55 pm
Even the master swindler Craig Joubert couldn’t get the Kings to win
And how he tried boy, he tried hard
27 Oct 2012, 00:08 am
The Kinks, as usual, played like a bunch of Lolas.
27 Oct 2012, 00:11 am
In one fell swoop, the Kings have learnt 2 things:
1) That there is a massive difference between First Div and Premier Div Currie Cup.
2) Actually, they didn’t learn anything else.
27 Oct 2012, 00:13 am
@TheTackler-115:
Did you ever see them live?
The Kinks, I mean. I bet you did.
27 Oct 2012, 01:16 am
@I am a stormer-117:
I’m not so sure. He is from Eksteenfontein.
They only knew about Jim Reeves. They never knew about Elvis even.
27 Oct 2012, 01:36 am
‘The Kings then suffered a major setback when scrumhalf Falie Oelschig was harshly red-carded for a punch on the half-hour mark, but they managed to go into the break with their lead intact.
Looking at the number of stitches that Ebersohn received It is hard to stomach a stupid comment like the one quoted above.The Kings were hell bent not to play rugby but through illegal amateurish tackling (no arms) to level the playing field.The Cheetahs paid dearly for their victory.
Graig Joubert saw it fit to ignore these tactics and the Assistant referee had to step in to to stop this stupid and dangerous foul play.The Kings can rest assured that many NZ and Aussie teams will not take this type of behaviour
laying down and the Kings may find themselves visiting the dentist for more than just a filling.
27 Oct 2012, 05:33 am
@Brentie1-119:
Looks like traditional EP/Border rugby is back.
27 Oct 2012, 07:27 am
Poor weather in PE reduced prospects of a free flowing points bonanza , like the game at the OFS statium last week . Also spoilt by a King with short man syndrome , being red carded . Overall , the pathetic political decision to put Cheeky’s team in Super Rugby is exposed as fatally flawed . But what would ANC politicians care – if the phuqed up upper thite , they will phuq up any thing.
You get the circumstances you vote for !
27 Oct 2012, 07:30 am
hate to agree with the australasians, but saffas can be thick. the kings are in superrugby to stay. how do you like them apples?
27 Oct 2012, 07:32 am
Brentie , it seems the Battle of Boet Erasmus lingers . Same meat , just different gravy . Those tackles last night showed mens rea and Solomons is a laywer and will know the meaning of mens rea (intentional and calculated to injure) If you are too young to remember the Battle of Boet – I am sure google has a record somewhere . I’m just surprised Grickers dont play that way – their coach was one of seeds from the “Battle of Boet” potting soil .
27 Oct 2012, 07:35 am
@shaka mehlomakulu-121:
as aposed to the circumstances we couldn’t vote for under apartheid
27 Oct 2012, 07:36 am
@shaka mehlomakulu-123:
Are you referring to the ’74 Lions tour and the 99 call? That was a test.
Look, EP had some of the dirtiest players in CC history during that period.
27 Oct 2012, 08:10 am
@David-125: Kyk hoe lyk ons nou and we voted for this, Ironic is it not.
27 Oct 2012, 11:59 am
How come transformation never posts on Kings threads?
27 Oct 2012, 12:23 pm
Because he knows he’ll come second…
27 Oct 2012, 16:10 pm
@Liewe Luiperd-127: He posted when they were leading. Maybe that’s the type of fan he is …
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