07 Mar 2016

BDF Cheetahs started the 2016 A Division season on a high note by beating UB Rhinos 17-3 at the Wharic Park on Saturday.

The clash between the two rugby giants was a lackluster affair, but Cheetahs secured a confidence boosting victory through three tries and a conversion.

The army team started on a high note took a 5-0 lead through a sixth-minute Eddie Ernest try. Omphile Debula missed the resultant conversion, and Lekgobo Bafana failed to extend their lead after a 21^st minute penalty went off target.

Rhinos made the Cheetahs pay for their wastefulness when they reduced the deficit through Kaelo Mogotsi’s 32^nd minute penalty, but play was generally scrappy in the first half with the two teams failing to conjure good attacking moves. 

Rhinos almost completed a comeback early in the second half with Mogotsi hitting the post through a long range penalty kick.

But the uncompromising Cheetahs wrestled back control of the game and Nathaniel Godirwang scored a try in the 54^thminute to increase their lead to 10-3. Bafana wasted another opportunity to put his name on the score sheet after dispatching a conversion wide.

Ketshedile Matengana scored another try six minutes from full-time to put Cheetahs in a commanding position, and Bafana sealed the 17-3 victory by striking home the conversion.

Cheetahs coach, Seabe Gabatladiwe said he was happy with the performance from his team even though the match was scrappy. He said his team was lethargic because it failed to play friendly matches before the league started.

“The match went well for us and it shows that we have been doing the right things during pre-season. This was our first match since we did not have any friendly games,” he said.

Rhinos coach, Munyaradzi Mhonda attributed the loss to his team’s lack of experience.

“We fielded a lot of young players in our team today and our inexperience showed. We have decided to continue with our mission of blooding in youngsters. We were also a bit rusty because we did not play warm up games,” Mhonda said. Ends