DAVID SHAPSHAK, Johannesburg | Friday 9.15pm.
THE Cats engineered a late fightback to beat the Blues 34-27 win at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday.
The home side were trailing 20-22 with 13 minutes remaining, before fullback Thinus Delport set up two tries, capping a sterling performance which saw him make the only try of the first half.
However, the two-time Super 12 champions scored an injury try through flanker Andrew Blowers to narrow the winning margin to less than seven points – securing a bonus point that might prove telling in the final log analysis.
The Cats dominated for much of the match, with superior possession and adventurous play. Blues fullback Adrian Cashmore kicked four first half penalties to narrow the Cats’ half time lead to 14-12.
Cats flyhalf Louis Koen punished the visitors’ indiscretions three of his penalties in five minutes after Cashmore, who scored 20 points in last weekend’s win over the Sharks, had opened the scoring with a three-pointer.
The Cats put the pressure on and Andre Venter rounded off a move began by a blistering Delport run. Cashmore added three more penalties before the break.
Doug Howlett caught the Cats defence napping after the restart, running in a comfortable try, which Cashmore goaled.
Koen then slotted two penalties to retake the lead 20-19, before Cashmore swung it back to 20-22.
The fullback saved a try by tackling Werner Swanepoel into touch after the ever-energetic Venter charged down a clearance.
But Swanepoel was on hand to draw n the defence and send Chester Willaims away after the mercurial Delport took a mark, tapped and ran 50 metres, evading several tacklers before passing to the scrumhalf.
Minutes later, Delport collected his own kick ahead to set up the Cats’ third try, which Andre Vos dotted down. Koen converted both.
But Blowers charged over when the Cats became sloppy with their defence, giving the two-time Super 12 champions a vital bonus point.