Dead-eye Nohamba stars as Lions upset Currie Cup apple cart with away win over Cheetahs

The Lions claimed a much-needed Currie Cup win on Saturday when they defeated the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein to close in on the top four play-off positions.

The 33-26 victory sees the men from Johannesburg move up to fifth in the table, three points off Western Province in fourth. 

The visitors dominated the match from the outset and took a 20-7 point lead into half-time thanks to tries from Rynardt Jonker and Edwill van der Merwe.

Sanele Nohamba added two conversions and two penalties.

The Cheetahs' sole score of the half came in the 39th minute when George Cronje crossed the whitewash with Ruan Pienaar adding the extras.

Cronje scored early in the second half, with Pienaar again accurate off the tee as the home side cut the Lions' lead to 20-14.

Nohamba extended the Lions' lead to 23-14 in the 49th minute before former Blitzbok JC Pretorius scored a converted try for a 30-14 advantage with 20 minutes to play.

Another Nohamba penalty put the Lions in total control at 33-14 with 10 minutes to go.

The Cheetahs did manage to secure a losing bonus point through two tries from Sibabalo Qoma and Marnus van der Merwe in the final few minutes, one of which was converted by George Lourens. 

Despite the defeat, the Cheetahs remain top of the Currie Cup log.

Scores

Cheetahs 26 (7)

Tries: George Cronje (2), Sibabalo Qoma, Marnus van der Merwe

Conversion: Ruan Pienaar (2), George Lourens

Lions 33 (20)

Tries: Rynardt Jonker, Edwill van der Merwe, JC Pretorius

Conversions: Sanele Nohamba (3)

Penalties: Sanele Nohamba (4)

Cheetahs

15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 George Cronje, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele