29 Mar 2015

Gaborone Hogs claimed their second win from two matches with a 16-0 victory over BDF Cheetahs on March 28 in the A-Division rugby season.

Right-wing Laurel Rakariba’s try finished off an early attack and fullback Edward Oesthuizen added further points through conversion and three penalties to cap a dominant Hogs performance at the Wharic Park.

Cheetahs were aiming to recover from last week’s 23-9 loss to log-leaders UB Rhinos, but were roundly pressurized by the marauding Hogs packs. After a sustained early attack, Rakariba broke through the Cheetahs backline to give the hosts a 5-0 lead with the only try of the match in the third minute. Oesthuizen calmly scored the conversion from a narrow angle to extend the lead to 7-0.

Hogs flourishing start continued in the 7th-minute when Oesthuizen looped in a long range penalty kick after Cheetahs gave away a foul close to the halfway line.
Cheetahs failed to recover from their wobbly start and rarely threatened to score, and as the Hogs pegged them back, they resorted to committing fouls which resulted with the referee giving more penalties against them.

Oesthuizen missed a chance to extend the Hogs lead either side of the halftime break when he kicked two penalties wide. But there was no let off when the Cheetahs conceded another penalty inside their 22m line on the 48th-minute, as the veteran player accurately dispatched his kick to give the hosts a 13-0 lead, before rounding off the scoring with another penalty on the 65th-minute.

Hogs coach Louis Fourie said his team’s game plan was to pressurize the Cheetahs packs all the time. “We knew that it was going to be a difficult game upfront.  The discussion in the week before the match was to take them upfront, and we were able to play on their faces,” Fourie said.

He said his team’s primary objective is to win the league after missing the title in the past two seasons. “We will take it game by game but our intention is to strive for the top position at the end of the year.”

Hogs remained on third position despite their victory, but have increased their points on the log to 9, the same tally as second placed Cheetahs. Cheetahs have however played four matches. In other A-Division weekend matches, UB Rhinos defeated Botho University 33-0 while LKC Jaguars thrashed Mochudi Rugby Club 57-0. ENDS