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Cheetahs Speed Past Falcons

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Cheetahs Speed Past Falcons

Photo Cheetahs Rugby.

The Toyota Cheetahs of South Africa defeated the USA Falcons 53-25 Friday night in Bloemfontein, Free State, making it plain that the Eagles program still has some work to do.

The USA team actually led 20-17 at halftime and had the run of play. They scored two tries, off a well-executed maul that saw flanker Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz thunder over from short range, and another after a period of pressure by the forwards and a nice run and offload from Paul Lasika where the Falcons went wide and wing Christian Dyer stretched over.

Luke Carty had an especially good half and converted both before adding two penalty goals. The Cheetahs scored two tries to take a 12-0 lead, somewhat against the run of play, before the Falcons came back to stick their beaks in front.

During the first half the Americans handled sufficiently well the monster boot of Francois Steyn, and made more than 90% of their tackles. The only real concern was their lineout, which was not consistent.

The halftime lead was preserved in part thanks to captain Bryce Campbell. Late in the first half with the Cheetahs threatening the line, Campbell was situated on the left side of the field behind the ruck. Suddenly he took off to his right even before the ball came out of the breakdown. The Cheetahs went wide and speedster Rosko Specman saw a huge gap in the USA line. Campbell got there just in time to get Specman around the legs; the Cheetahs back stretched to score, but lost the ball forward—no try. It was a nice example of a never give up attitude that the Falcons showcased.

The second half was less good for the Falcons. Both teams made some changes and the Falcons defense was left wanting at times. Specman finally did score, beating about five players with his superb sidestep, and the Cheetahs certainly won the kicking battle. The Falcons did have a really good scoring chance early in the second half thanks to a penallty and a lineout, but the throw was inexplicably called not straight when the replays clearly showed there was nothing wrong with it. That one hurt.

Tavite Lopeti came on to score a try late, but the second half certainly belonged to the hosts.

For the USA, their back row of Vili Helo, Cory Daniel, and Fa'anana-Schilz were quite good and sometimes spectacular. Paul Lasike looked fit and powerful at inside center, while Mitch Wilson and Dyer put in brave performances on the wing. Brave and unflinching also was Nte Augspurger at scrumhalf.

It was a good first half for the scrum but the second half was also trouble, and poor Dylan Fawsitt kept getting in trouble for his brake foot not coming back far enough.

But overall this game gave all of the players a taste of physical, intense, fast-paced rugby, and enough moments from which to draw some confidence.

Cheetahs 53
Tries: Jasper, Qoma, Hartzenberg, van Rensburg 2, Rudolph, Specman, Sekekete 
Convs: Steyn, Pienaar 4
Pens: Pienaar

USA Falcons 25
Tries: Fa'anana-Schultz, Dyer, Lopeti
Convs: Carty 2
Pens: Carty 2

 

USA Falcons Line vs Cheetahs
1 Jack Iscaro Old Glory DC
2 Dylan Fawsitt Rugby New York
3 Paul Mullen Utah Warriors
4 Keni Nasoqeqe Houston SaberCats
5 Nick Civetta Rugby New York
6 Viliami Helu Rugby ATL
7 Cory Gilliland-Daniel Old Glory DC
8 Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz Old Glory DC
9 Nate Augspurger San Diego Legion
10 Luke Carty LA Giltinis
11 Christian Dyer Houston SaberCats
12 Paul Lasike Utah Warriors
13 Bryce Campbell Austin Gilgronis
14 Mitch Wilson New England FreeJacks
15 Marcel Brache Austin Gilgronis
       
Reserves
16 Kaleb Geiger Rugby New York
17 Chance Wenglewski Rugby New York
18 Angus Maclellan Utah Warriors
19 Moni Tonga’uiha NOLA Gold
20 Cam Dolan NOLA Gold
21 Duncan Van Schalkwyk Rugby ATL
22 Tavite Lopeti Seattle Seawolves
23 Chris Mattina Austin Gilgronis