22 Jul 2013

BDF Cheetahs are confident of their prospects against UB Rhinos in the weekend’s Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) A-Division final.

Cheetahs progressed to the final after a hard-fought 29-18 semifinal victory over defending champions, Gaborone Hogs at the SSKB Stadium on Saturday, July 20, setting up a mouth-watering showdown for league honours with Rhinos.

Coach Mmoloki Moroke told BOPA that he was expecting a tough battle against the 2011 champions but fancied his team’s chances of glory.

“We know Rhinos very well. They are a strong team with powerful packs. But we have a strategy of diffusing their forward threat when we clash in the final. My team has good backs and if we can contain them and attack well we would be able to beat them,” Moroke said.

The army side last won the league championship six seasons ago, but Moroke said his troops were ready to end their long drought after hitting an excellent form. “Our performances have been very good of late. Our recent games against provincial squads during the rugby week in South Africa also gave us more momentum,” he said.

The coach was however concerned by the absence of his two props, Goleswang Twadimpe and Oarabile Chicha who are injured.

Cheetahs fell 3-0 behind 15 minutes into the encounter when Sean Bester converted Hogs first penalty, but the soldiers turned the tables by scoring 14 points in a three minutes spell.

First Botswelelo scored a try in the 20th minute, and Bafana Lekgobo made a successful conversion.

With Hogs still reeling minutes, Bankutlwatsi Bodibonyana raced through to score a second try three minutes later with Lekgobo again successful with his conversion.

Bester cut the deficit with a try and conversion on brink of halftime for 14-10 score at the break.

Hogs fight-back was almost complete when Bester kicked in a penalty four minutes into the second half, but James Shamodaka outpaced Hogs’ backs to score another try to widen the lead to 19-13.

Lekgobo then scored a penalty while Ketshedile Matengana added another try and Omphile Debula made a conversion to take Cheetahs’ points tally to 29. Hogs scored a late try to make the final score 29-18.  ENDS