The Cheetahs pulled off one of the most remarkable Super 14 wins of the season when they defeated the high-flying Hurricanes 27-25 in a riveting match played in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The visitors from New Zealand led 18-10 at the break and 25-10 after 53 minutes when centre Ma’a Nonu went over for a try.
But the Cheetahs pulled off their second win of the season in incredible fashion scoring two tries in the second half of the last period.
Those tries, by fullback Bevin Fortuin and loose-forward Ryno van der Merwe, were separated by a drop-goal from replacement scrumhalf Falie Oelschig. Flyhalf Meyer Bosman landed a match-winning conversion from a difficult angle, making up for his miss against the Bulls in round one.
The Cheetahs fully deserved the nail-biting win after dominating the second period.
The Hurricanes outscored the hosts in the first period thanks in chief to some controlled recycling coupled with a number of poor decisions made by the Cheetahs on attack.
Ill-discipline also counted against the hosts when Bevin Fortuin was yellow-carded midway through the first period for a cynical high tackle. Centre Barry Goodes was lucky not to receive the same treatment when he also mis-timed a tackle in the 35th minute.
The visitors made the Cheetahs pay for the indiscretions, poor passing and unforced errors by scoring two tries, through hooker Andrew Hore and fullback Shannon Paku.
Sandwiched in between the two Hurricanes tries was a score by Springbok prop Os Du Randt, which was converted by Bosman.
The Cheetahs flyhalf also scored the opening points of the game, slotting over a penalty in the third minute.
He missed two further penalties and the Cane’s capitalised as their goalkicker, flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth added two penalties and a conversion, to give the New Zealanders a handy half-time lead. The Cheetahs did have a chance to narrow the gap in the 40th minute but a poor pass laid waste to that chance. – Sapa