Honours shared in Currie Cup sizzler

BLOEMFONTEIN – The defending champions, the Cheetahs, and the Blue Bulls shared South Africa’s Currie Cup trophy after a pulsating 100 minutes here on Saturday.

The teams were forced into 20 minutes of extra time after being level at 25-all after 80 minutes, but nothing could separate the sides after the additional time. Replacement flyhalves Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs) and Morne Steyn (Bulls) struck penalties in extra time, but neither side was able to breach the others defences so the trophy was once again shared.Credit must however be given to the Bulls who turned around a 3-14 deficit and lost two players to the sin-bin in the second period to force the tie into extra time.The Cheetahs, however, deserve mention for their tenacious defence and the manner in which they took on the big Bulls forwards in the second 40 minutes.It was mainly a sparring session in the opening half hour with both sides preferring to keep the ball among the forwards and the flyhalves kicking into the corners.There were also a number of up-and-unders, but both teams did well in the defensive department.As it was there were few try-scoring chances with No 10s Willem de Waal and Derick Hougaard dominating the opening exchanges with their boots.De Waal landed three penalties inside 30 minutes to Hougaard’s one for a 9-3 lead for the defending champions before the match was set alight with a superb try by Cheetahs winger Philip Burger.Cheetahs flanker Kabamba Floors broke the initial line of defence from the kickoff before off-loading to hooker Richardt Strauss who in turn flipped the ball to the speedy Burger on his outside and the son of the great Springbok flank Thys Burger showed a clean pair of heels to score in the corner.The Bulls though hit back with two minutes remaining in the second period when centre JP Nel benefited from some lax defence from the home side to close the gap to just five points.The lead changed once again when Steyn slotted his first three-pointer, but the brilliant Floors then put his side back in front after wonderful build-up by the home side when he went in for the Cheetahs’ second try and minutes later De Waal slotted his fifth penalty for a 25-18 lead for the home side.The Bulls then piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes and after a superb defensive effort by the Cheetahs the visitors finally found their way over the Cheetahs line, centre Nel getting his second try.Steyn converted to push the match into extra time.Nampa-AFPReplacement flyhalves Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs) and Morne Steyn (Bulls) struck penalties in extra time, but neither side was able to breach the others defences so the trophy was once again shared.Credit must however be given to the Bulls who turned around a 3-14 deficit and lost two players to the sin-bin in the second period to force the tie into extra time.The Cheetahs, however, deserve mention for their tenacious defence and the manner in which they took on the big Bulls forwards in the second 40 minutes.It was mainly a sparring session in the opening half hour with both sides preferring to keep the ball among the forwards and the flyhalves kicking into the corners.There were also a number of up-and-unders, but both teams did well in the defensive department.As it was there were few try-scoring chances with No 10s Willem de Waal and Derick Hougaard dominating the opening exchanges with their boots.De Waal landed three penalties inside 30 minutes to Hougaard’s one for a 9-3 lead for the defending champions before the match was set alight with a superb try by Cheetahs winger Philip Burger.Cheetahs flanker Kabamba Floors broke the initial line of defence from the kickoff before off-loading to hooker Richardt Strauss who in turn flipped the ball to the speedy Burger on his outside and the son of the great Springbok flank Thys Burger showed a clean pair of heels to score in the corner.The Bulls though hit back with two minutes remaining in the second period when centre JP Nel benefited from some lax defence from the home side to close the gap to just five points.The lead changed once again when Steyn slotted his first three-pointer, but the brilliant Floors then put his side back in front after wonderful build-up by the home side when he went in for the Cheetahs’ second try and minutes later De Waal slotted his fifth penalty for a 25-18 lead for the home side.The Bulls then piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes and after a superb defensive effort by the Cheetahs the visitors finally found their way over the Cheetahs line, centre Nel getting his second try.Steyn converted to push the match into extra time.Nampa-AFP