Cheetahs make it a bleak PRO14 weekend for SA

Cape Town - The Cheetahs made it a bleak weekend for South African teams in the PRO14 when they proved no match for Irish side Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

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Leinster, despite missing a host of international stars away on Six Nations duty, cruised to a convincing 36-12 victory.

The match was always going to be a challenge for coach Hawies Fourie's men, and in the end two yellow cards - issued to centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg and prop Charles Marais - didn’t help their cause, nor did the inclement conditions.

For Leinster, the result extended their win-streak in this season's tournament to 11 matches. They now hold a healthy 16-point lead at the top of Conference A, while the Cheetahs remain in third place.

Things won't get much easier for the Cheetahs who will next face Ulster - who are in second place in the standings - on Saturday, February 22 at 21:35 (SA time).

South Africa's other team in the tournament, the Southern Kings, were embarrassed 68-3 by Munster on Friday. Munster took over at the top of Conference B with their win, while the Kings remain rock-bottom with a single win in their 11 matches to date.

The Kings next face third-placed Llanelli Scarlets on Sunday, February 23 at 19:35 (SA time).

- Compiled by Garrin Lambley

Scorers:

Leinster

Tries: Will Connors (2), Michael Bent, Ronan Kelleher, Rhys Ruddock

Conversions: Ciaran Frawley (4)

Penalty: Frawley

Cheetahs

Tries: Luan de Bruin, Aidon Davis

Conversion: Ruan Pienaar

Teams:

Leinster

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Jimmy O’Brien, 12 Joe Tomane, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Ciaran Frawley, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Max Deegan, 7 Will Connors, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Scott Fardy (captain), 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Bent, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Peter Dooley

Substitutes: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Cian Kelleher

Cheetahs

15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Charles Marais

Substitutes: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Aidon Davis, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Louis Fouche, 23 Chris Smit