The Pumas ran in nine tries to the home side’s three.
It was once again the Mpumalanga team’s ability to counter-attack with speed and precision that earned them the win.
The Pumas dominated the young Cheetahs XV team. They controlled the pace of the game and had too much experience and firepower for the Free State lads.
Diego Appollis scored in the eighth minute thanks to Devon Williams breaking the defensive line to put the visitors 5-0 up.
Stefan Coetzee replaced Appollis after the try.
The Free Staters put up a brave fight and a Janus Venter try, converted by Andell Loubser, put seven points on the scoreboard on 19 minutes. It was the first and last time the Free Staters would be in the lead.
The visitors moved up a gear and earned three tries in the last 20 minutes of the first half. Wian van Wyk, Eduan Swart and Llewellyn Claassen crossed the try line, with De Beer adding six points with his boot.
The half-time score was 26-7.
Williams scored early in the second half and De Beer converted before scoring his own five-pointer and nailing the conversion.
In the 53rd minute, the Pumas’ Corné Fourie received a yellow card.
The Cheetahs hit back with tries by Ruan Smit and Marcell Muller. Loubser converted both.
But it was all Pumas for the last 20 minutes of the match.
Coetzee scored a try converted by Brandon Thompson, before Williams scored twice in three minutes, with Thompson converting both.
The 61-21 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game.
The Pumas were in a class of their own, but the Cheetahs XV played with extreme passion and purpose, and always held their heads high, despite the loss.
