Cheetahs produce another last-gasp effort against Lions

Exciting Cheetahs fullback Sergeal Petersen broke the Golden Lions hearts when he scored his team’s match-winning try in the dying seconds to hand his side a thrilling 30-24 Currie Cup win in Bloemfontein on Saturday night.

With the Lions leading by a single point at 24-23 with time on the clock finished, it was Petersen who dashed through the desperate Lions defence.

The Lions’ exciting winger Aphiwe Dyanti  similarly made a massive impact after he replaced Anthony Volmink in the first half.

First he set up the their second try in the 48th minute scored by replacement flank Hacjivah Dayimani and a minute later he was instrumental again in the Lions No 8 Fabian Booysen’s score.

While Dyanti is still inexperienced, he showed a lot of speed and intensity and is a prospect for the future.

Who was the star in this match?

Petersen was a danger on attack throughout the game and he created numerous problems for the Lions the entire night. He truly is a game breaker.

Key moments and themes

• The Lions got the game off to a flyer by scoring the opening try of the game after just three minutes through lock Andries Ferreira. But that ended up being their only points of the first half as the Cheetahs ran in 13 unanswered points in the opening half.
• Worrying for the Lions was that their scrum was under huge pressure, especially on the tighthead side where the Cheetahs’ Aranos Coetzee put a lot of pressure on the Corne Fourie. There was more stability when Jacobie Adriaanse came on with captain Jacques van Rooyen moving to his more accustomed position at loosehead.
• The Lions suffered two injury setbacks in the first half with wing Anthony Volmink and promising opensider James Venter hobbling off. Dayimani, Venter’s replacement, proved to be one of the unsung heroes of the visiting side.
• The Cheetahs once again showed their penchant for pulling a victory out of the fire. Their commitment right up to the end can’t be faulted.

Scorers

Cheetahs: Tries: Gerhard Olivier, Rosco Specman, Sergeal Petersen. Conversions: William Small-Smith (2), Robbie Petzer. Penalties: Petzer (3).

Lions: Tries: Andries Ferreira, Hacjivah Dayimani, Fabian Booysen. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3). Penalty: Van der Walt.