Undefeated Cheetahs march on in Currie Cup after superb WP comeback

The Cheetahs came back from being 14 points down to beat Western Province 28-21 in Cape Town on Friday to keep their Currie Cup winning streak intact. 

FT | WP 21-28 Cheetahs

The men from Bloemfontein have now played seven, won seven in the competition, though they stay second in the standings with the Bulls just one point ahead having played a game extra. 

This Cheetahs team, with Springbok veterans Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn key figures, continues to find ways to win from difficult positions and that was very much the case again here. 

Western Province, who are second from bottom on the log with just one win from eight, were full value for their 16-7 half-time lead that went out to 21-7 shortly after the restart, but the Cheetahs stepped up a gear when they needed to most. 

Back-to-back tries in quick succession from Louis van der Westhuizen and David Brits saw the scores level at 21-21 after 50 minutes, setting up a tense last half an hour. 

Both sides had their opportunities during that period, but it was hooker Van der Westhuizen who went over from a rolling maul on 70 minutes after the Cheetahs had turned down an opportunity at three points to score the all-important try. 

WP finished strongly and had the ball just 5m out from the Cheetahs line in the closing stages, but they could not make it count. 

Tristan Leyds and Angelo Davids scored WP's tries, while prop Alulutho Tsakweni scored the Cheetahs' first of four in their bonus point win.

Scorers

WP 21 (16)

Tries: Tristan Leyds, Angelo Davids

Conversion: Tim Swiel

Penalties: Swiel (2)

Cheetahs 28 (7)

Tries: Alulutho Tsakweni, Louis van der Westhuizen (2), David Brits

Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (4)