The Cheetahs scored three rolling maul tries on Friday night to hand the Vodacom Bulls a third straight Currie Cup defeat.
It’s three bonus-point victories in as many matches for the Cheetahs after blitzing the Bulls 32-7 at Toyota Stadium.
The hosts got off the line first as the boot of Ruan Pienaar and a well-orchestrated driving maul, finished by flanker Gideon van der Merwe, established an early 10-0 lead for the hosts.
19'| TRY TIME! ?
Gideon scores a try followed by a conversion from Pienaar.
Toyota Cheetahs 10-0 Vodacom Bulls#CHEvBUL @ToyotaSA pic.twitter.com/l1tlEIFW4r
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) March 24, 2023
The Bulls hit back with a stunning try against the run of play that showcased great handling before hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels finished in the corner, but were dealt a blow when No 8 Muller Uys was shown a yellow card minutes later.
Capitalising on the numerical advantage, hooker Marnus van der Merwe scored the Cheetahs’ second try from a driving maul as the hosts took a 15-7 lead into the break.
A more balanced start to the second half came to an end when Cheetahs winger Munier Hartzenberg finished a pin-point cross-kick from flyhalf Reinhardt Fortuin, before the hosts scored their third rolling maul try, this time courtesy of replacement lock Sibabalo Qoma.
The Toyota Cheetahs run in five tries on their way to a 32-7 bonus-point win over the Vodacom Bulls in the #CurrieCup.
Munier Hartzenberg applied the finishing touch to this brilliant try! ? pic.twitter.com/EuuZ2ju8iP
— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) March 24, 2023
60'| TRY TIME! ?
Sibabolo Qoma scored a try for the team!!
Toyota Cheetahs 27-7 Vodacom Bulls#CHEvBUL #CurrieCup @ToyotaSA pic.twitter.com/fYtEoQ8asu
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) March 24, 2023
A subdued last quarter was occasionally sparked to life by scorching runs from Cheetahs flyer Daniel Kasende, and although the winger finished the game with no points to show for his efforts, he was instrumental in the last play of the match that ended with fullback Cohen Jasper scoring the hosts’ fifth try to wrap up the victory.
Photo: Twitter/@CheetahsRugby