Cheetahs Win Currie Cup Final
BLOEMFONTEIN – The Free State Cheetahs captured their fifth Currie Cup title with an overwhelming 36-16 victory over the Blue Bulls at Bloemfonten’s Toyota Park on Saturday. This is the first time Bloemfontein has won the title since 2007. It’s been a fantastic season for Franco Smith’s team – unbeaten throughout. The Cheetahs dominated the […]
BLOEMFONTEIN – The Free State Cheetahs captured their fifth Currie Cup title with an overwhelming 36-16 victory over the Blue Bulls at Bloemfonten’s Toyota Park on Saturday.
This is the first time Bloemfontein has won the title since 2007. It’s been a fantastic season for Franco Smith’s team – unbeaten throughout.
The Cheetahs dominated the match outshining the Bulls in terms of both possession and attack… although it wasn’t quite the demolition job they did on the Golden Lions in the semi-final.
As Brenden Nel said in his SuperSport report: “The Cheetahs best moments came from their exceptional broken field play, and the offloading ability they use to make yards upfield at any given moment.”
Flyhalf Niel Marais kicked an awesome 21 points, helping the Cheetahs to an 18-9 lead at the end of the first half.
Marais scored a total seven penalties in the match. Tries for the Free State team came from Clayton Blommetjies and Sergeal Petersen; conversions from Fred Zeilinga; and penalties: from Marais and Zeilinga.
The Blue Bulls’ try came from Piet van Zyl, conversion from Joshua Stander and three penalties from Tian Schoeman.
Western Province came third in the 2016 Currie Cup, behind the Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls.