Match Details

Cheetahs (SA)

VS

Brumbies

38

Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Kick off times: 5:00pm (Local) Sat 17 Mar 2:00am (AEDT) Sun 18 Mar

20

The Brumbies have had a poor start to their three-match South African tour going down 38-20 to the Cheetahs in their Investec Super 14 match in Bloemfontein.

The Cheetahs led 14-0 at half-time and kept the Brumbies scoreless until 50th minute when the Australian outfit mounted a late challenge with tries to Adam-Ashley Cooper and Mark Chisholm.

But Cheetahs skipper Juan Smith sealed the match with a try in the 71st minute before Brumbies reserve scrumhalf Patrick Phibbs scored a chip-and-chase try on the final siren.

After tight opening punctuated by solid defence from both sides, the Cheetahs broke the deadlock through wily scrumhalf Falie Oelschig, who caught the Brumbies napping by taking a quick tap penalty and scooting over for the try.

Cheetahs wing Gavin Passens doubled to home team's advantage shortly before half-time after a superb flowing backline movement that started deep in their own half. Willem de Waal converted to give the Cheetahs a 14-0 lead at the break.

Julian Huxley got the Brumbies on the board with a penalty in the 50th minute but the Cheetahs hit back with a try to hooker Richardt Strauss a clever pass from de Waal close to the Brumbies line. De Waal's conversion made it 21-3.

The Cheetahs continued to make the most of the momentum with right wing Philip Burger benefiting from quick hands across the backline to dive across for a try in the corner. De Waal converted to make it 28-3.

The Brumbies struck back almost immediately through a brilliant solo effort from fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, who took a deft back-pass from Mark Gerrard and outsprinted the cover defence to for a brillian 70-metre try.

De Waal took advantage of a Brumbies turnover from the kick off to slot an opportune drop goal before Brumbies lock Mark Chishom burrowed over for a try just three minutes later to bring the score back to 31-13.

But the Cheetahs' hard-working captain Juan Smith was able to seal the match by stretching out for a try of the back of a ruck close to the Brumbies line, with the Third Match Official giving the all clear for the five-pointer.

De Waal made it five from five conversions to push the score out to 38-13 before an superb individual effort from Phibbs, who re-gathered his own chip kick and darted over for a try right on the final siren.

Cheetahs 38

Tries: Falie Oelschig, Gavin Passens, Richardt Strauss, Philip Burger, Juan Smith

Conversions: Willem de Waal 5

Drop Goal: De Waal

Brumbies 20

Tries: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mark Chisholm, Patrick Phibbs

Conversions: Julian Huxley

Penalty: Huxley