A flawless goal-kicking effort from Ruan Pienaar helped the Free State Cheetahs beat the Vodacom Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday to progress to the Currie Cup final.

The veteran flyhalf was outstanding at Free State Stadium, claiming 22 points with the boot by landing all eight of his kicks at goal in a 39-10 victory for the Cheetahs.

The hosts led 20-3 at half time thanks to Pienaar and tries from inside centre Reinhardt Fortuin and fullback Tapiwa Mafura.

The Cheetahs dominated the clash to stay on course for a seventh Currie Cup title, and await the result of the second semi-final between the Sharks and Pumas in Durban to see who they will host in the showpiece next week.

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Making his 50th appearance for the Cheetahs, Fortuin crossed for the opening try with just three minutes gone after charging down Bulls fullback Johan Goosen’s clearance.

Pienaar slotted the first of his two conversions of the half, and restored the hosts’ lead to seven from the kicking tee at the close of the first quarter, after Goosen split the uprights for the visitors’ only points in the opening 40 minutes.

The Cheetahs were briefly reduced to 14 men after tighthead prop Conraad van Vuuren was shown a yellow card for a cynical infringement at the breakdown.

But, the Free Staters weathered the numerical disadvantage, and went into the interval 17 points ahead on the scoreboard following another Pienaar penalty and a try from Mafura, who completed an excellent set-piece move in the right corner.

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Pienaar struck first after the break with his third penalty of the match, before the Bulls finally crossed the whitewash when hooker Johan Grobbelaar barged over from close range off a rolling maul.

Goosen added the extras, but Pienaar struck another penalty to extend the Cheetahs’ lead beyond two converted tries.

Replacement flanker WJ Steenkamp thought he grabbed the Bulls second try inside the final quarter, but his touchdown was ruled out by the TMO for a forward pass in the buildup.

Pienaar drilled two more penalties, and replacement Evardi Boshoff landed the coup de grâce with a try before the final whistle, after Bulls rake Jan-Hendrik Wessels was sent to the naughty chair in the closing minutes for his role in an off-the-ball scuffle.  

Photo: Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix