For the second week in a row, the Cheetahs lost by one point to New Zealand opposition, this time going down 34-33 to the visiting Blues in a thrilling Super 14 encounter played in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Last week they were downed 33-32 by the Chiefs.
The Cheetahs had a great chance to take the spoils after hooker Tiaan Liebenberg scored a try after the hooter and with the Blues leading 34-28, but Meyer Bosman missed the difficult conversion.
The match was a great spectacle and nine tries were scored overall, but goal-kicking was the major difference with the Blues’ Luke McAlister in sensational form, slotting three conversions and two penalties to go with his try.
The Cheetahs picked up two bonus points but must feel gutted.
The Blues, trailing 25-20 at the break, scored two second-half tries, through Isa Necawa and Joe Rokocoko, and in the end that proved telling.
Apart from Liebenberg’s try, only Bosman managed to score in the second period, with a penalty.
The first half was a thriller with both teams prepared to throw the ball around. This resulted in six tries, four to the home side and two to the visitors.
The Cheetahs got the ball rolling with a try by fullback Bevin Fortuin in the third minute, and that signalled the start of the fireworks.
The Blues then landed two penalties by McAlister, but the hosts struck out and flexed their muscles immediately, with Keith Lowen definitive in holding up the Blues defence before off-loading to Gaffie du Toit.
The left-wing then showed what a devastating kicker he can be by landing a mammoth 57m drop goal to give the Cheetahs a 15-6 lead.
The Blues then hit their straps and tries by Brent Ward and McAlister gave them a 20-15 lead.
But the Cheetahs raised the bar and ended the first half strongly with tries by Fortuin and Giscard Pieters, the last a bonus-point-earning effort to take the score to 25-20. — Sapa