While the Cheetahs lost their third game at home this season, they managed to walk off the field with two valuable bonus points. One point was for losing within seven points, while the other was four scoring four tries. This sees the Cheetahs still leading the standings by three points, but a win would certainly have made their route to the semi-finals a lot easier.

The Lions raced to a 20-0 lead in the first half with Rynhardt Jonker and Edwill van der Merwe each scoring a try, while the flyhalf Sanele Nohamba landed two conversions and two penalty.

On the stroke of half time the eighth-man George Cronjé got the Cheetahs on the board with a try, while Ruan Pienaar landed the conversion for the hosts to trail 20-7 at the break.

Cronjé scored his second try three minutes into the second half and Pienaar landed the conversion again.

A converted try by the Blitzbok JC Pretorius and two more penalties by Nohamba push the Lions score up to 33-14.

The Cheetahs mounted their comeback with the flanker Siba Qoma and the replacement hooker, Marnus van der Merwe dotting down.

It was a little too late for the Cheetahs and they ultimately fell short by seven points.

The home team certainly had their chances and they did leave a lot of points on the park, however the Lions converted their chances and their discipline was far superior to that of the Cheetahs.

Next week Friday the Cheetahs will tackle the Sharks in Durban in a game that has become that much more important for the team from the Free State.

Scorers:

Cheetahs: Tries – George Cronjé 2, Siba Qoma, Marnus van der Merwe  Conv. – Ruan Pienaar 2, George Lourens 

Lions: Tries – Rynhardt Jonker, Edwill van der Merwe, JC Pretorius Conv. – Sanele Nohamba 3 Pen. – Nohamba 4

Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 George Cronjé, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements - 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 Lawrence Victor, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Evardi Boshoff, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 George Lourens.

Lions - 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Rhynhardt Rijnsburger.

Replacements - 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Darrien-Lane Landsburg, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Stean Pienaar, 23 Andries Coetzee.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport