Faf de Klerk made a winning start to his Cheetahs stint as the Free Staters claimed a narrow Currie Cup win over the Lions in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
The Springbok scrumhalf played 70 minutes in his first competitive appearance since returning to South Africa from Japan.
Centre Likhona Finca scored a hat-trick for the Lions but it was not enough as a late penalty from flyhalf Jaco van der Walt gave the hosts a 29-27 win.
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Both sides made a sloppy start, before the match opened up into an entertaining contest.
Van der Walt and Lions No 10 Sam Francis traded penalties before Cheetahs hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg powered over.
The Lions then hit back through Finca to level the scores at 8-8.
The Cheetahs struck again when flanker Ramon Uys pounced on a loose ball from close range after another solid period of pressure. Van der Walt slotted his second penalty to give the hosts some breathing room.
The first half ended in dramatic fashion. Lions scrumhalf Zian Cilliers lost possession, releasing winger Cohen Jasper into space, making a strong break before a poor pass in contact handed the Lions possession with the defensive line broken. Debutant fullback Latica Nela collected and ran through to make it 16-13 at the break.
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The Lions came out firing after the restart as Finca crossed for his second.
The Pride weathered wave after wave of Cheetahs pressure at the scrum, maul and in contact, holding the ball up on the line before a Clayton Blommetjies knock-on turned possession over metres from the tryline.
Lock Victor Sekekete eventually drove over from close range to restore the Cheetahs’ lead at 21-20 before Jasper finished off a fine passage of play to secure the bonus point. De Klerk could not convert, leaving it 26-20 with 10 minutes remaining.
The Lions responded immediately, with Finca diving over for his hat-trick under the posts to give the visitors a 27-26 lead.
Van der Walt then stepped up with just six minutes remaining, slotting a well-struck penalty from deep to put the Cheetahs back in front.
The Lions launched an attack in the final play but a relentless Cheetahs defensive effort forced a knock-on out wide to seal the win.
In round two, the Cheetahs host the Sharks XV, while the Lions return to Ellis Park to face the Pumas.
CHEETAHS–Tries: Marko Janse van Rensburg, Ramon Uys, Victor Sekekete, Cohen Jasper. Penalties: Jaco van der Walt (3).
LIONS –Tries: Likhona Finca (3), Latica Nela. Conversions: Sam Francis (2) . Penalty: Francis.
