Cheetahs outpace Lions

Willie Le Roux: his break set up the second try

Robert Ebersohn: Two tries for the Cheetahs

Two tries from Robert Ebersohn helped the Cheetahs to a comfortable 26-5 success over the Lions in Bloemfontein.

The hosts were never in trouble and led 23-0 at the break, with Cobus Grobelaar's try for the Lions very much a consolation.

Johan Goosen got the scoreboard going with a 20th-minute penalty, just after he had narrowly failed to land a monster 66-metre effort.

With the Cheetahs dominating the lineout, the Lions' share of possession soon dried up, although rookie flanker Paul Willemse did his best to disrupt things.

The Cheetahs attacked well through Ebersohn, though, and it was no surprise when he opened the scoring. He danced his way through the line after WP Nel collected a poor kick from Jaco Taute.

The discipline of the Lions slumped after that and the Ebersohn grabbed his second five-pointer after Willie Le Roux broke through.

Sensing a need to make something happen, the Lions were unable to make the most of a spell of pressure close to their opponents' line and, when Goosen punted another penalty before the break, it was essentially game over at 23-0.

The same thing happened in the second half, with the Lions camping out in Cheetah territory for a good five minutes, only to come away empty handed.

They would cross the stripe eventually, though, with flanker Grobbelaar cashing in on a fine break from Michael Bondesio.

But there would be no comeback, with Sias Ebersohn kicking a victory-sealing penalty after replacing Goosen.