The Cheetahs came from behind to beat the Southern Kings on Saturday night, with the Kings surprisingly leading the SupeRugby outfit 20 – 14 at half time, preventing the Kings from scoring in the second half to end on 33 β 20.
Left wing Vuyo Mboto was the first half hero, as he scored two tries, both converted by fullback Elrich van Vuuren. Van Vuuren also slotted two long range panalties to complete the scoring for his team.
The first half Cheetahs points were scored by tries from Rocco Jansen and Piet van Zyl, both tries being converted by wunderkid Johan Goosen.
Both Ebersohn brothers scored tries in the second half, along with Willy le Roux, while the Kings had no answer in a game filled with sloppy handling errors and poor defence. Goosen converted one of these, while Sias missed one and slotted another with his kicking duties.
The Southern Kings were made up of players from Border and South West District, and were up for the match against a team with much more experience.
Scorers:
Southern Kings:
Tries Vuyo Mboto (2)
Penalties Elrich van Vuuren (2)
Conversions: Van Vuuren (2)
Cheetahs:
Tries: Rocco Jansen, Piet van Zyl, Robert Ebersohn, Sias Ebersohn, Willy le Roux
Conversions: Johan Goosen (3), Sias Ebersohn (1)

I thought the scoreline would be bigger in the Cheetahs favor
@Mutley (Comment 1) : you and many here that think the Kings should impress them & prove that they deserve to play super rugby π
@Megatron (Comment 2) : Hey that wasn’t the Kings it was a SWD and border invitational side. π π
This is a good result for SWD amd Border many expected the cheetahs to thump them.
Next week the Bulls are in PE i hope frans ludeke is prepared.
Last years defeat left me πΏ π₯
@Megatron (Comment 2) : this was only a warm-up game for the cheetahs..that is what rugby down in the ec have become: a warm-up for the big boys of sa rugby ..
@bergshark: hahahaha don’t get sulky china
@bergshark (Comment 5) :
Cheetahs didn’t look so big last night!!
I don’t know.
The fact that the Kings went scorless in the second half seems to imply that the cheetahs were coasting in the first.
It doesn’t sound like the Kings could keep up once the Cheetahs got serious.
Just speculation, I didn’t see the game, but it is unusual for a side leading in the first half to not score in the second.
Border rugby has been energised by the relocation of the Zululand Rugby Academy to East London. This has helped the Union gain promotion to the CC u21 top tier. Hopefully they’re able to build on this success during this year’s Vodacom Cup.
A proper academy serving the regions needs by tapping into a big talent pool that everyone has been aware of for yonkers has been long overdue.
2 things have been really sad. 1 that the academy’s establishment couldn’t have been made a priority many years ago and 2 that EC rugby can’t now claim boasting rights to the academy being there.
I really hope that the academy’s goals remain honest and in the best interest of rugby, that it receives the necessary support and that it is able to sustain itself. It really has massive potential to reshape rugby in the region.
@beet:Based on playing in province of birth ep couldve fielded a cc backline back in ’86 that wouldve incl 5 players that rep boks vs nz cavaliers :15.johan heunis 11.c du plessis 12.m du plessis 13.d gerber 9.garth wright and 2 fwds in schalk burger sr and anton barnard.if I forgot someone,just feel free to add.
@Megatron (Comment 6) : china bell ?