Cheetahs off to winning start in European Challenge Cup

The Cheetahs showed great composure and maturity under pressure to edge out Pau 21-16 in their maiden Challenge Cup match at the Stade du Hameau on Saturday.

The match started slowly, with neither team really firing in attack, Clément Mondinat kicking Pau into a lead in the first five minutes, before Ruan Pienaar responded with a penalty of his own.

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Two further Mondinat kicks gave Pau a half-time lead but neither side will have been happy with their first-half displays.

But the second half was a completely different story, as Daniel Maartens went over for Cheetahs to give them a 10-9 lead.

It sparked the home side into life and a Rémi Sénéca score restored their lead, which they kept despite powerful flanker Oupa Mohojé charging over, as Pienaar pushed the conversion an inch wide.

But Pienaar kicked Cheetahs back into the lead before being substituted, and fly-half Siya Masuku kicked another penalty to give them the victory as Pau’s ill discipline ultimately cost them the win.

Challenge Cup scorers:

Pau 16 (9) – Try: Rémi Seneca. Conversion: Thibault Daubagna. Penalty goals: Clément Mondinat (3).
Cheetahs 21 (3) – Tries: Daniel Maartens, Oupa Mohoje. Conversion: Ruan Pienaar. Penalty goals: Pienaar (2), Siya Masuku.

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CHEETAHS CHALLENGE CUP TEAM:

Cheetahs — 15 Frans Steyn, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Jeandrè Rudolph, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira. 
Subs: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Robert Ebersohn.