A dominant Toyota Free State Cheetahs XV side were just too strong for the Zimbabweans, running in 10 tries to a solo try in the 59th minute courtesy of Zim Academy's Aiden Burnett.
With this victory, the visitors not only remain within reaching distance of the unbeaten DHL Western Province side, but they replaced Boland in the second position on the South Section log.
The visitors, apart from the first minute Brendon Mandivenga penalty goal, were never trailing on the scoreboard. Five unanswered first half-tries meant the men from Bloemfontein headed into the break with a healthy 33-3 cushion. This 30-point deficit proved to be too big for the hosts.
Three players crossed the try line twice including Tapiwa Mafura, Lubalalo Dobela and Jamba Ulengo. Dobela was also on kicking duty for the visitors - the flyhalf added two conversions which took his personal tally to 14 points in the match.
The damage was done in the opening stanza with Zimbabwe not having any reply for the pace, power and skill of the visitors.
Ulengo completed his brace while Darren Adonis, Jacques du Toit and Daniel Maartens all getting over the whitewash for tries in the last 20 minutes of the match. Carelse converted two tries while Stapelberg succeeded with one of his two attempts.
Scorers:
Zimbabwe Academy - Try: Aiden Burnett. Conversion: Brendon Mandivenga. Penalty goal: Mandivenga
Toyota Free State Cheetahs XV - Tries: Tapiwa Mafura (2), Lubalalo Dobela (2), Jamba Ulengo (2), Janus Venter, Jacques du Toit, Darren Adonis, Daniel Maartens. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (3), Dobela (2), Adriaan Carelse (2).
