Jasper try clinches Toyota Cheetahs win in all-South Affrican affair

The hosts’ second win of their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign was helped by scrum-half Ruan Pienaar who kicked 12 points. 

Toyota Cheetahs were on top in the opening 20 minutes with hooker Marnus van der Merwe powering over, converted by Pienaar. 

The power of Hollywoodbets Sharks’ driving maul pulled them level as second row Eben Etzebeth crossed the whitewash and fly-half Curwin Bosch kicked the extras. 

A quickly taken penalty resulted in the hosts re-taking the lead as blind-side flanker Gideon van der Merwe drove over from close range for an unconverted effort, before a Pienaar penalty gave them a 15-7 half-time lead. 

Hollywoodbets Sharks struck back immediately after the interval with blind-side flanker Francois Venter scoring an unconverted effort. 

On his 50th Toyota Cheetahs appearance No. 8 Jeandre Rudolph earned a 44th minute penalty which Pienaar scored to make it 18-12. 

However, Hollywoodbets Sharks took the lead on 54 minutes after scrum-half Grant Williams skilfully ran over, converted by Bosch. 

A long-range Bosch penalty had the distance on 58 minutes and the visitors took a four-point lead. 

Toyota Cheetahs regained the lead after capitalising on a mistake and replacement blind-side flanker Daniel Maartens kicked forward before clawing his way over for a converted score. 

The hosts led for just two minutes when a perfect kick by Bosch found the run of left winger Makazole Mapimpi for a bonus-point converted try. 

However, Toyota Cheetahs were not beaten and with six minutes remaining Jasper jinked inside from the wing to give his side a fourth try and a three-point win.