Cheetahs hand Griquas third Currie Cup loss

The Free State Cheetahs taught Griquas a rugby lesson on Saturday when they handed the former log leaders a 58-13 thumping in their Currie Cup clash in Kimberley.

The home side dominated territory and possession for the first 20 minutes before the Cheetahs ran rampant, climbing one place to fifth on the log.

Trailing 6-3 in the 17th minute, Griquas wing Bjorn Basson went over on the left wing to give the hosts an 8-6 lead, but then the visitors took control.

In the 30th minute, Jongi Nokwe dotted down and six minutes later the Cheetahs wing added another try as the visitors began to run away with the game.

Shortly before the break, Cheetahs flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potieter added a penalty to give the visitors a 23-8 lead at the break, and they never looked back.

And any hope Griquas had of fighting back was quickly extinguished in the early stages of the second half. Within four minutes, Nokwe had scored his third try and Potgieter added the conversion, stretching their lead to 22 points.

Just two minutes later, Cheetahs tighthead WP Nel pushed over and Potgieter again converted, giving the hosts little hope of getting back in the game.

And nine minutes later, Free State lock Nico Breedt closed off some superb team work to stretch their lead even further and Griquas were left with no hope of fighting back.

With 20 minutes on the clock, Cheetahs No 8 Frans Viljoen scored their sixth try and he wasted no time in securing his brace eight minutes later.

The home side were left to pick up the pieces, with Ruan Kitshoff securing a consolation try, but the Cheetahs easily secured their fourth win of the competition to hand Griquas their third straight loss.

Final Score Cheetahs 58 Griquas 13

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