Cheetahs edge tight EPCR Challenge Cup debut
- 1233
Cheetahs showed composure and maturity under pressure to edge out Section Paloise 21-16 in their first ever EPCR 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.
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 Toyota 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 Toyota 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.
