Cheetahs beat Boland Cavaliers 33-24 in Currie Cup round six

Cheetahs overturned a 10-7 half-time deficit to defeat Boland Cavaliers 33-24 in Currie Cup round six on Sunday. The Free State side scored four second-half tries to secure a bonus-point victory at Free State Stadium.

Boland had taken control before the interval. Juan Smal opened the scoring for the Cheetahs from a driving maul, but Johnré Stopforth soon crossed for the visitors and Ashlon Davids converted. Davids then added a penalty shortly before half-time to give the Cavaliers their three-point advantage.

The Cheetahs changed the contest after the break. Zander du Plessis scored early in the second half, before scrumhalf Faf de Klerk added another try. Michael Annies crossed twice as the hosts pulled clear, with flyhalf Tiaan Swanepoel converting four of their five tries.

Boland’s discipline deteriorated during the closing stages, with Kwanda Dimaza, Cornel Smit, Stopforth and Gift Dlamini each shown a yellow card in the final quarter. Bentley Geldenhuys scored a late try for the Cavaliers, while Davids finished with three conversions and a penalty.

The result leaves the Cheetahs second on the standings with one league round remaining. Boland stay fourth, but leave Bloemfontein without a competition point, with fifth-placed Stormers XXIII close behind before the final round.

The Cheetahs will visit the Pumas at Mbombela Stadium next Friday. Boland Cavaliers will host reigning champions Griquas, who secured a home semi-final after their win in Nelspruit, in the final league round.