Clayton Blommetjies brilliant as Cheetahs crush Kings – again
The Cheetahs moved to within one win of second place in their Guinness Pro 14 Conference after an emphatic second half demolition of the Southern Kings.
The Kings, who haven’t won in 13 matches, played like a team that hadn’t won a game. Individually there was merit to their first half display, which accounted for 17 points.
But it was the Cheetahs collective that was always superior in winning.
The Cheetahs scored six tries to three in the 45-24 win. They lead 24-17 at the break and the winning score is similar to the 45-21 against the Kings a week ago in Port Elizabeth.
The Cheetahs six tries took them to 51 for the tournament and they also passed 400 points.
The win was the Cheetahs eighth in 13 matches and consolidates their third place (40 points) behind second placed Munster (43). Glasgow are the runaway leaders in the Conference with 57 points.
The Kings, in Super Rugby, lost twice in Bloemfontein to the Cheetahs (12-26 in April 2013 and 20-34 in May 2016) but in Pro 14 they have not been as competitive.
Kings coach Deon Davids had to rebuild the squad that in last year’s Super Rugby came within a point of beating the Cheetahs in their final league game.
Fred Zeilinga kicked six conversions and a penalty while centre Nico Lee (2) and speedster Makable Mapimpi were among the try-scorers. Lee scored three tries against the Kings a week ago.
But the man of the match was fullback Clayton Blommetjies, whose match statistics included 101 running metres from fullback. He was a constant threat on attack and was influential in several of the Cheetahs six tries.
The Cheetahs’ only loss at Toyota Stadium this season was 26-29 to Glasgow Warriors in Round Six.
Read all the team and player Opta Powered Match statistics
Toyota Cheetahs: Clayton Blommetjies, Craig Barry, Nico Lee, Niel Marais, Makazole Mapimpi, Fred Zeilinga, Shaun Venter, Ox Nche, Jacques Du Toit, Johan Coetzee, Justin Basson, Reniel Hugo, Henco Venter, Oupa Mohoje (c), Uzair Cassiem
Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Charles Marais, Tom Botha, Rynier Bernardo, Junior Pokomela, Zee Mkhabela, Clinton Swart, AJ Coertzen.
Southern Kings: Ntabeni Dukisa, Michael Makese, Harlon Klaasen, Luzuko Vulindlu, Yaw Penxe, Martin Du Toit, Rowan Gouws, Schalk Ferreira, Michael Willemse (c), Pieter Scholtz, Stephan Greeff, Bobby de Wee, Andisa Ntsila, Martinus Burger, Ruaan Lerm.
Replacements: Tango Balekile, Johan Smith, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Lindokuhle Welemu, Eital Bredenkamp, Rudi van Rooyen, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Berton Klaasen
