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http://cyrilsplace.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/highlanders-shake-off-persistent-cheetahs/
Written by cyRil
Highlanders 24-21 Cheetahs
Hosts do enough to hold off stubborn Free State
Goal kicking proved to be the difference at Dunedin on Friday night as the Highlanders scraped past a tenacious Cheetahs outfit.
The two teams came into this match in very different mind-sets, with the men from Otago on a high following a crucial win over the Brumbies last week, whilst the Cheetahs trying to get themselves out of a rut that has seen them lose 6 out of 7 games in this SupeRugby season, with the Free State province rooted to the bottom of the South African conference.
It was the visitors, with a strong wind behind them, that got the match underway, looking to capitalise on their advantageous weather conditions in the first 40 minutes, and began the contest by fielding long kicks that pinned the Highlanders back deep in their own 22.
But it was the home side that were given the first opportunity to get on the scoreboard after the Cheetahs were penalised for not releasing in the tackle; however from 40 metres out fly-half Colin Slade pulled his shot wide.
Both sides were visibly up for this encounter – the Highlanders carrying well in the early stages and an eager Cheetahs defence getting quickly out of the stocks to nullify their hosts' attacking threat.
However it was this defensive exuberance that brought the first try of the night, as the visitors' defensive line shot up too quickly, providing a huge overlap out wide for the Highlanders to exploit, with blindside Adam Thomson receiving the ball out wide for a relatively easy run to the line.
Slade had no problem with converting the extras; 7-0 Highlanders after 12 minutes of play.
Still conscious of the strong winds the home team were keeping things tight and disciplined at the back making sure any possession they had in their own territory was well dealt with, with good clearing kicks from Slade making sure the Cheetahs had no scraps to work off.
The visiting South Africans had not started so orderly, and when Ashley Johnson was pinged for infringing at a ruck, Slade was given another chance to extend the Highlanders' lead, which he duly took to mirror his side's dominance on the pitch with an encouraging figure on the scoreboard; 10-0 Highlanders after 16 minutes.
But with a quarter of the game gone the Cheetahs got themselves on the board.
A penalty 10 metres from the Highlanders line was taken quickly by lively scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, who put his head down and weaved his way towards the line. Some more good yards from the Cheetahs forwards had the hosts on the back foot and a solid platform allowed tight-head W.P. Nel to pick up from the base of the ruck and drive over under the posts.
An easy conversion from Sias Ebersohn brought the score to 10-7 Highlanders, after 21 minutes.
Unperturbed, the home side continued to go about their business, with their backs looking sharp and dangerous with ball in hand – some good interplay between Slade and fullback Ben Smith provided openside Alando Soakai with the ball, but the flanker squandered possession with poor hands.
It didn't take long for things to click again though, as quick ball of the top of a line-out gave Slade the ball in midfield, and the running angles of the Highlanders centre pairing Shaun Treeby and Kenny Lynn created space in the Cheetahs defence, with the latter getting the ball and finding the gap for an easy run in.
Slade slotted the simple conversion to make it 17-7 after 26 minutes.
The Cheetahs were being easily dealt with by an uncompromising Highlanders defence, meaning that even with possession in the opposition 22 the visitors were not being allowed to look threatening as their attacks were snuffed out and bundled into touch.
With 5 minutes of the half left, however, the Cheetahs picked up the pace and got a result.
A turnover from pivot Slade gave the away side a chance, and the ball was moved quickly along the line left to Robert Ebersohn, who ignored the runners outside him to sluice through the line and touch down out wide.
His twin brother, Sias, curled in a difficult conversion to make it 17-14 Highlanders, with half-time imminent.
On the stroke of the whistle the Cheetahs were provided another opportunity to score, and tie things up heading into the break. With Jimmy Cowan not rolling away at the breakdown, referee Nathan Pearce blew up on halfway; but the distance proved too great for Ebersohn, and the Highlanders 3-point lead remained intact as the teams trotted off for the interval.
The hosts emerged for the second half looking to up the tempo of their own play to shake off the nuisance of the visiting Cheetahs – a mentality that almost paid immediate dividends as winger Kade Poki put Ben Smith through a gap, and the fullback marauded upfield, shrugging off numerous tacklers before being hauled down just outside the 22. Cowan put a clever chip-kick over the defence which wasn't dealt with adequately, and from the ensuing ruck the ball was slung with pace out left, with a towering pass from Slade reaching flanker Thomson out wide, and although initially doing well the blindside was eventually put out over the whitewash.
It didn't take long though for Thomson to make amends. A great break in the centres from Lynn set up the play, and receiving the ball 30 metres out, Thomson exquisitely stepped off his right, back infield, fending off the attentions of two tacklers and dash for the line; the conversion making it 24-14 Highlanders early in the second period.
The remainder of the encounter was something of a war of attrition, with sporadic bursts of energy and entertainment lighting the game up from time to time for the Carisbrook crowd.
A brilliant Slade run and inside offload carved open the Cheetahs defence again soon after the try, but Soakai once more put the ball down when in possession, denying his team the opportunity to build meaningful pressure.
But the home side were causing great disruption to the Cheetahs set-piece, with scrums and line-outs under significant pressure, and talisman Thomson proving a constant inconvenience to the visitors' throwing in.
Their defence too was shaky at best, with their first up tackling very poor and over 20 missed tackles giving the Highlanders plenty of chances to make headway in the forwards and unleashing dangerous backs at pace.
The Highlanders constant flat passing was also aiding them in making good yards as they were immediately hitting the gain line phase after phase. If the Cheetahs had played with heads up, then an intercept would definitely have been on, yet they seemed content to tackle to keep their opponents at bay.
With 12 minutes left the visitors were awarded the opportunity of getting within 7 points, and a losing bonus point, with a penalty 40 metres out after the Highlanders were done for offside. Ebersohn was inaccurate with the boot however, relieving the pressure on the home side as they continued to search for the fourth try of the night that would bring their own bonus reward.
It was not forthcoming however and when they were penalised again for not releasing Ebersohn was given another chance to redeem himself from the tee.
It was not his night though, spurning a further opportunity for his side, points that could prove costly come the end.
With the clock running down and both sides keen to get the next score, the game and field opened up; and a lovely break from Robert Ebersohn saw the centre evade the clutches of Soakai and sprint upfield. Good interlinking and support play between Cheetahs backs ended with scrum-half Pretorius rushing forwards and bamboozling the Highlanders defence before shipping the ball to wing Philip Burger who finished the move well.
Sias Ebersohn was not so wasteful this time with the conversion and with 4 minutes left to play the gap in the scores had again been reduced to 3 points; 24-21 Highlanders.
It was definitely a nervy finish for the hosts, and the Cheetahs were looking to ride their adrenaline and regained confidence towards a positive result that had looked very unlikely only moments before.
And when Thomson was penalised again for coming in from the side at a Cheetahs ruck, it provided the big boot of fullback Riaan Viljoen with a long-range opportunity to tie the game.
But captain Wilhelm Steenkamp opted for touch instead, and from the resulting line-out the Highlanders forced a hugely important turnover, with replacement half-back Aaron Smith gratefully grabbing the ball and launching into touch to bring an end to the night's proceedings.
A compelling game in New Zealand's South Island which provided plenty of running rugby and 3 tries a-piece, and while the Highlanders will be relieved to see the game out for another crucial win, the Cheetahs now return home thinking of what could have been and ruing Sias Ebersohn's missed kicks that ultimately cost them dear.
Star Man: Adam Thomson – Although Colin Slade performed admirably, the Highlanders' loose forward was a constant thorn in the Cheetahs' side at the breakdown and in the line-out and wrapped his performance up by grabbing two good tries.
5-metre Flop: Ashley Johnson – The big back-rower certainly looks intimidating, but that is negated by some brainless play leading to needless mistakes which are to the detriment of his team.
Follow me on Twitter @cyRilSports
Written by cyRil
Highlanders 24-21 Cheetahs
Hosts do enough to hold off stubborn Free State
Goal kicking proved to be the difference at Dunedin on Friday night as the Highlanders scraped past a tenacious Cheetahs outfit.
The two teams came into this match in very different mind-sets, with the men from Otago on a high following a crucial win over the Brumbies last week, whilst the Cheetahs trying to get themselves out of a rut that has seen them lose 6 out of 7 games in this SupeRugby season, with the Free State province rooted to the bottom of the South African conference.
It was the visitors, with a strong wind behind them, that got the match underway, looking to capitalise on their advantageous weather conditions in the first 40 minutes, and began the contest by fielding long kicks that pinned the Highlanders back deep in their own 22.
But it was the home side that were given the first opportunity to get on the scoreboard after the Cheetahs were penalised for not releasing in the tackle; however from 40 metres out fly-half Colin Slade pulled his shot wide.
Both sides were visibly up for this encounter – the Highlanders carrying well in the early stages and an eager Cheetahs defence getting quickly out of the stocks to nullify their hosts' attacking threat.
However it was this defensive exuberance that brought the first try of the night, as the visitors' defensive line shot up too quickly, providing a huge overlap out wide for the Highlanders to exploit, with blindside Adam Thomson receiving the ball out wide for a relatively easy run to the line.
Slade had no problem with converting the extras; 7-0 Highlanders after 12 minutes of play.
Still conscious of the strong winds the home team were keeping things tight and disciplined at the back making sure any possession they had in their own territory was well dealt with, with good clearing kicks from Slade making sure the Cheetahs had no scraps to work off.
The visiting South Africans had not started so orderly, and when Ashley Johnson was pinged for infringing at a ruck, Slade was given another chance to extend the Highlanders' lead, which he duly took to mirror his side's dominance on the pitch with an encouraging figure on the scoreboard; 10-0 Highlanders after 16 minutes.
But with a quarter of the game gone the Cheetahs got themselves on the board.
A penalty 10 metres from the Highlanders line was taken quickly by lively scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, who put his head down and weaved his way towards the line. Some more good yards from the Cheetahs forwards had the hosts on the back foot and a solid platform allowed tight-head W.P. Nel to pick up from the base of the ruck and drive over under the posts.
An easy conversion from Sias Ebersohn brought the score to 10-7 Highlanders, after 21 minutes.
Unperturbed, the home side continued to go about their business, with their backs looking sharp and dangerous with ball in hand – some good interplay between Slade and fullback Ben Smith provided openside Alando Soakai with the ball, but the flanker squandered possession with poor hands.
It didn't take long for things to click again though, as quick ball of the top of a line-out gave Slade the ball in midfield, and the running angles of the Highlanders centre pairing Shaun Treeby and Kenny Lynn created space in the Cheetahs defence, with the latter getting the ball and finding the gap for an easy run in.
Slade slotted the simple conversion to make it 17-7 after 26 minutes.
The Cheetahs were being easily dealt with by an uncompromising Highlanders defence, meaning that even with possession in the opposition 22 the visitors were not being allowed to look threatening as their attacks were snuffed out and bundled into touch.
With 5 minutes of the half left, however, the Cheetahs picked up the pace and got a result.
A turnover from pivot Slade gave the away side a chance, and the ball was moved quickly along the line left to Robert Ebersohn, who ignored the runners outside him to sluice through the line and touch down out wide.
His twin brother, Sias, curled in a difficult conversion to make it 17-14 Highlanders, with half-time imminent.
On the stroke of the whistle the Cheetahs were provided another opportunity to score, and tie things up heading into the break. With Jimmy Cowan not rolling away at the breakdown, referee Nathan Pearce blew up on halfway; but the distance proved too great for Ebersohn, and the Highlanders 3-point lead remained intact as the teams trotted off for the interval.
The hosts emerged for the second half looking to up the tempo of their own play to shake off the nuisance of the visiting Cheetahs – a mentality that almost paid immediate dividends as winger Kade Poki put Ben Smith through a gap, and the fullback marauded upfield, shrugging off numerous tacklers before being hauled down just outside the 22. Cowan put a clever chip-kick over the defence which wasn't dealt with adequately, and from the ensuing ruck the ball was slung with pace out left, with a towering pass from Slade reaching flanker Thomson out wide, and although initially doing well the blindside was eventually put out over the whitewash.
It didn't take long though for Thomson to make amends. A great break in the centres from Lynn set up the play, and receiving the ball 30 metres out, Thomson exquisitely stepped off his right, back infield, fending off the attentions of two tacklers and dash for the line; the conversion making it 24-14 Highlanders early in the second period.
The remainder of the encounter was something of a war of attrition, with sporadic bursts of energy and entertainment lighting the game up from time to time for the Carisbrook crowd.
A brilliant Slade run and inside offload carved open the Cheetahs defence again soon after the try, but Soakai once more put the ball down when in possession, denying his team the opportunity to build meaningful pressure.
But the home side were causing great disruption to the Cheetahs set-piece, with scrums and line-outs under significant pressure, and talisman Thomson proving a constant inconvenience to the visitors' throwing in.
Their defence too was shaky at best, with their first up tackling very poor and over 20 missed tackles giving the Highlanders plenty of chances to make headway in the forwards and unleashing dangerous backs at pace.
The Highlanders constant flat passing was also aiding them in making good yards as they were immediately hitting the gain line phase after phase. If the Cheetahs had played with heads up, then an intercept would definitely have been on, yet they seemed content to tackle to keep their opponents at bay.
With 12 minutes left the visitors were awarded the opportunity of getting within 7 points, and a losing bonus point, with a penalty 40 metres out after the Highlanders were done for offside. Ebersohn was inaccurate with the boot however, relieving the pressure on the home side as they continued to search for the fourth try of the night that would bring their own bonus reward.
It was not forthcoming however and when they were penalised again for not releasing Ebersohn was given another chance to redeem himself from the tee.
It was not his night though, spurning a further opportunity for his side, points that could prove costly come the end.
With the clock running down and both sides keen to get the next score, the game and field opened up; and a lovely break from Robert Ebersohn saw the centre evade the clutches of Soakai and sprint upfield. Good interlinking and support play between Cheetahs backs ended with scrum-half Pretorius rushing forwards and bamboozling the Highlanders defence before shipping the ball to wing Philip Burger who finished the move well.
Sias Ebersohn was not so wasteful this time with the conversion and with 4 minutes left to play the gap in the scores had again been reduced to 3 points; 24-21 Highlanders.
It was definitely a nervy finish for the hosts, and the Cheetahs were looking to ride their adrenaline and regained confidence towards a positive result that had looked very unlikely only moments before.
And when Thomson was penalised again for coming in from the side at a Cheetahs ruck, it provided the big boot of fullback Riaan Viljoen with a long-range opportunity to tie the game.
But captain Wilhelm Steenkamp opted for touch instead, and from the resulting line-out the Highlanders forced a hugely important turnover, with replacement half-back Aaron Smith gratefully grabbing the ball and launching into touch to bring an end to the night's proceedings.
A compelling game in New Zealand's South Island which provided plenty of running rugby and 3 tries a-piece, and while the Highlanders will be relieved to see the game out for another crucial win, the Cheetahs now return home thinking of what could have been and ruing Sias Ebersohn's missed kicks that ultimately cost them dear.
Star Man: Adam Thomson – Although Colin Slade performed admirably, the Highlanders' loose forward was a constant thorn in the Cheetahs' side at the breakdown and in the line-out and wrapped his performance up by grabbing two good tries.
5-metre Flop: Ashley Johnson – The big back-rower certainly looks intimidating, but that is negated by some brainless play leading to needless mistakes which are to the detriment of his team.
Follow me on Twitter @cyRilSports
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