The Otago Highlanders kept their Super 14 rugby semifinal hopes alive on Friday after stopping a late charge by the Central Cheetahs for a 21-17 victory.
With eight minutes remaining the Highlanders, previously languishing at 10th place on the table, were cruising towards victory with a 21-10 lead after dominating possession and territory.
But sustained pressure by the South Africans saw flanker Kabamba Floors score as the forward pack drove over the Highlanders’ line, keeping the visitors’ hopes alive.
They continued to camp in the Highlanders’ 22 in the dying minutes and only desperate defence kept the Cheetahs out. Twice in the last 10 minutes fiesty Highlanders scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan featured in forcing the opposition into touch right on the try line.
”It’s a real confidence booster for us. The boys showed a lot of character in those last five minutes,” Highlanders captain Josh Blackie said afterwards.
”The Cheetahs are one of the better attacking South African sides, so we did very well to stop them tonight [Friday].”
The teams finished with two tries apiece in a match where defence dominated.
The home side failed to make full use of a two-to-one dominance of both territory and possession in the first spell, with both sides finishing with a try each at half-time.
Two penalties from flyhalf Nick Evans were the difference as the Highlanders went into the break with a 11-7 lead.
But a lack of ideas seemed to afflict the New Zealand side in the opening half and they failed to make the most of their dominance.
The return of All Blacks Carl Hayman and Anton Oliver to the starting front row for the first time this season gave the Highlanders a solid platform up front and lock James Ryan was outstanding in the line-outs and in loose play.
The Highlanders scored the first try in the 14th minute with lanky lock Kane Thompson being on hand on the wing to finish after Evans sparked an attack with a beautifully weighted chip kick.
But the Cheetahs defied the run of play to hit back in the 23rd minute after winning a turnover on the Highlanders’ 22. The forwards nearly went over on the left-hand side before the ball sped through the backline for Eddie Fredericks to go over unopposed on the right wing.
In the second spell Highlanders right wing Lucky Mulipola scored their second try, taking the final pass to touch down after his chip kick opened up the Cheetahs defence. — AFP
