Edinburgh score two late tries to see off the Cheetahs

Edinburgh claimed a bonus point victory over the Cheetahs in round 6 of the PRO14.

The Cheetahs still remain winless in the competition this season but they did show plenty of promise in the loss.

Bill Mata and Jamie Ritchie scored late tries for the home side while the lightning Sibhale Maxwane scored twice for the visitors.

Edinburgh move above Ulster and Benetton in Conference B, as the competition takes a break for the Champions Cup next weekend.

Edinburgh came out of the blocks firing as Simon Hickie slotted the first points of the match from the tee. The fly-half added a second, benefiting from Edinburgh’s forward dominance before the first try of the match arrived mid-way through the first half.

Toolis added his name to the scoresheet as Edinburgh took firm control of the match before the Cheetahs turned the game on its head when they turned over the ball deep in their own half. Maxwane sped down the flank and showed off his speed beating Darcy Graham and taking the ball to just five metres out before popping the ball up to Nico Lee to score.

But Edinburgh stretched their lead minutes before the half-time whistle following a scrum 20 metres out as Graham found his way over the line. Maxwane was in the thick of it again in the second half as he raced in for a try. The Cheetahs continued to plug away at the Edinburgh defence before Louis Fouche made a break before Maxwane went in for his second.

Tian Schoeman put the Cheetahs ahead with 15 minutes to go before Hickie booted a third penalty of the night from 30 metres. From there Edinburgh took control and scored two unanswered tries to secure the result.