Match Report

Cheetahs

The British and Irish Lions

Tries. Demas, Du Preez, Uys		Tries. Earls, Ferris
Conv. Potgieter (2), Strydom (1)		Conv. Hook (2)
Pen. Potgieter (1)		Pen. Hook (4)

The British and Irish Lionsvs Cheetahs6th June 2009SheridanFordMurrayO'CallaghanO'ConnellFerrisWorsleyPowellEllisHookFitzgeraldEarlsHalfpennyWilliamsByrne

The British and Irish Lions

1. Sheridan
2. Ford
3. Murray
4. O'Callaghan
5. O'Connell (c)
6. Ferris
7. Worsley
8. Powell

9. Ellis
10. Hook
11. Williams
12. Fitzgerald
13. Earls
14. Halfpenny
15. Byrne

Blair,
D'Arcy (Fitzgerald, 74)

Cheetahs

1. du Preez
2. Strauss
3. Calldo
4. Breedt
5. de Villiers
6. Brussow
7. Uys
8. Scholtz (c)

9. de Bruyn
10. Potgieter
11. Demas
12. Bosman
13. Uys
14. Jonker
15. Daniller

Strauss (Strauss, 50),
Nel (Calldo, 46),
Viljoen (Breedt, 46),
Floors (Scholtz, 64),
Odendaal (de Bruyn, 44),
Strydom (Potgieter, 59),
Juries

Match Report

McGeechan’s men followed convincing victories against the Royal XV and the Golden Lions with a tough 26-24 win over Super 14 team The Cheetahs at the Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein.

The Lions took the lead through converted tries from Stephen Ferris and Keith Earls, and along with a couple of Hook Penalties the Lions were 20 points up within as many minutes.

However the next hour wasn't so easy. With the Lions under severe pressure the Cheetahs hit back with two converted tries of their own. The home side nearly produced the first upset of the tour but Strydom's long-distance drop goal attempt failed to hit the target.

The British and Irish Lions dominated the opening minutes and took the lead through a penalty from Wales and Ospreys fly-half James Hook after only eight minutes. A couple of minutes later they had their first try of the game to celebrate.

Within minute the Cheetahs had a chance to level the scores but Potgieter missed his penalty, this allowed Hook to boot a long 22 drop out which was fielded by the Cheetahs, however they failed to get clean ball and when the ball came loose, Stephen Ferris picked up possession and sprinted clear.

The game got even better when Earls claimed the Lions’ second try after only 16 minutes. The Munster centre certainly made up for a poor first half against the Royal XV a week ago.

Sleek lineout possession on the halfway line allowed scrum-half Ellis to provide his backs with quick ball, with Hook lofting a delightful chip over the heads of the Cheetahs midfield and straight into the arms of Irish centre Earls. He then stepped both Daniller and Jonker and dived over the line 10 metres from the left of the posts. With Hook duly converting before adding his second penalty after 21 minutes. The tourists were cruising with a 20-0 lead with just over a quarter of the game played.

With the Lions looking to pile even more pressure on the Cheetahs the game was suddenly turned on its head. Try-scorer Ferris made a crunching tackle as the Cheetahs gained ground but was penalised for failing to roll away and slowing down possession. English referee Wayne Barnes was not impressed and sent him to the sin bin.

This brought the Cheetahs to life and when Ferris returned 10 minutes later, the Lions’ had leaked 2 tries their lead had been cut to just six points.

The first came through left wing Danwel Demas, who looked dangerous throughout the game crossed the line after gratefully accepting fly-half Jaques-Louis Potgieter’s pass just five metres from the Lions’ line.

There was no finesse about the second as prop Wian du Preez barged over from close-range after the Lions had given up possession deep inside their own half. With Potgieter converting both to bring the home side back to within a single score.

Hook and Potgieter traded penalties either side of the half-time break before impressive work in the scrum from the Lions pack earned another kickable penalty attempt. Hook was successful as he slotted his sixth kick out of six, rewarding his forwards for their hard work at the setpiece. This moved the Lions nine points ahead with just under half an hour remaining.

This proved to be the Lions last score of the day. However the Cheetahs weren't quite finished as they set up a tense final few minutes when Corne Uys dashed 90 metres to score under the posts.

With the Lions pushing too hard for that killer score, Shane Williams failed to link with Hook just 10 metres from the opponents line. Uys read the pass beautifully and dashed off running the length of the field to put his side within touching distance of the Lions. The try was easily converted by replacement fly-half Strydom.

They now knew they only needed a drop goal or a penalty to seal a historic victory over the touring side. They so very nearly did as Strydom unleashed a 45-metre drop from wide on the left. It seemed to fly through the air in slow motion as both sides saw the ball slide past the post. The Lions breathed a sigh of relief as they claimed their third victory out of three.

The Lions now travel to Durban for Wednesday's clash with the Sharks at ABSA Stadium, and return for the first Test against the Springboks on June 20.