Toyota Free State proved to be a hard nut to crack and underlined their unbeaten status in the Carling Currie Cup with a 29-15 victory over the Cell C Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Wednesday evening.
Following a hot late summer’s day, the rain started to fall as the match kicked off and both sides appeared intent on playing a safe game, not wanting to play too much in their own half and giving the ball plenty of air in an attempt to force a mistake.
The wet would bedevil both sides throughout and the persistently bad weather certainly played a role in preventing open and entertaining running rugby
Free State came to Durban filled with a hunger that has provided their top of the table status and were rewarded with two early penalties in the opening quarter hour to open up a six point lead.
With both sides gaining advantage on their scrum put-ins, Frans Steyn kicked his second from long range following a dominant scrum and then moments later, Free State fielded a kick deep and ran the ball hard down the wing from their 22 to score the game’s opening try, with Ruan Pienaar converting for a 16-nil lead after 24 minutes.
The Cell C Sharks were on the scoreboard on the half hour following a dominant scrum effort that heralded a penalty right in front and Tito Bonilla made no mistake. It was the start of a strong fightback at a crucial time in the game.
With Free State’s kicking game letting them down, the action returned deep into their half and a slew of penalties against them afforded the Cell C Sharks the opportunity to make possession and territory count.
They achieved just that from a dominant maul from a lineout penalty with Fez Mbatha the man at the back, with Bonilla adding the extras from out wide to cut the lead to 16-10 and that’s how the half ended moments later.
The Cheetahs enjoyed early territorial advantage in the second half, but their discipline eased all kinds of pressure and the penalty count against them continued to mount. The visitors found themselves on a warning for repeated infringements and their fifth penalty of the second half within the opening 10 minutes earned the ire of the referee who sent a man to the sin bin.
From the ensuing lineout and maul, an almost carbon copy of the first half try, Dan Jooste was at the back of a relentless effort, with the backs getting involved to add to the momentum and force the second try and cut the lead to 16-15.
Free State got their own back when the Cell C Sharks were penalised for bringing down a maul and Pienaar, had no hesitation in pointing to the posts and converting to push his team into a 19-15 lead with 25 minutes remaining.
As the game hit the final quarter hour, Free State scored their second try with a rumbling rolling maul that just built up too much momentum to stop, pushing them into a nine point lead.
A handful of moments later, a fumble in the 22 led to a loose ball which was then kicked ahead and bobbled over the tryline, Free State winning the foot race to the ball to score their third try, taking a 29-15 lead into the final 10 minutes of the game.
Both sides fought hard for a score, but the wet ball continued to plague any efforts at building momentum and the final whistle beat any further score.