Cape Town - The Cheetahs have beaten defending PRO14 champions Scarlets in an encounter played in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.

The Cheetahs won 28-21 after leading 16-11 at half-time.

The home side scored three tries through William Small-Smith and Craig Barry (2) while Fred Zeilinga landed a conversion and three penalties.

Meanwhile, the Welsh outfit scored two tries through Jessie Davis and Ioan Nicholas while Dan Jones and Tom Prydie kicked three penalties between them.

The Cheetahs next play Benetton in Italy on January 6 while Scarlets the Ospreys on December 26. 

Scorers:

Cheetahs

Tries: William Small-Smith, Craig Barry (2)

Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (2)

Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (3)

Scarlets

Tries: Jessie Davis, Ioan Nicholas

Conversions: Dan Jones 

Penalties: Dan Jones  (2), Tom Prydie

Teams:

Cheetahs: 

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Craig Barry, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Nico Lee, 11 Makazola Mapimpi, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Rynier Bernardo, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten Van Jaarsveld (captain), 1 Charles Marais.

Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Jasper Wiese, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Tertius Kruger, 23 Sibhale Maxwane.

Scarlets: 

15 Johnny Mcnicholl, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Steff Hughes (captain) , 12 Paul Asquith, 11 Ioan Nicholas, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Will Boyde, 7 James Davies, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Lewis Rawlins, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Dylan Evans.

Substitutes: 16 Taylor Davies, 17 Rhys Fawcett, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Steven Cummins, 20 Josh Macleod, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Ioan Hughes, 23 Morgan Williams.