The Cheetahs dashed the Auckland Blues’ Super 14 semifinal hopes with a 36-32 victory at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.
The New Zealanders, in 10th spot, needed to win their final three matches to stand any chance of reaching the final four.
Captain Juan Smith opened the scoring for the home side when the flanker side-stepped through the Blues’ defence from close range to dive over near the posts. Flyhalf Naas Olivier added the extra points.
The Blues responded immediately when slick interplay between centres Benson Stanley and Isaia Toeava allowed the latter to sprint in from 20 metres. Flyhalf Stephen Brett, playing his 50th match, levelled the score with the conversion.
Olivier regained the advantage with his second penalty after 15 minutes before winger Jongi Nokwe capitalised on a turnover deep inside Blues territory to score his team’s second try and open up an eight-point lead.
Brett narrowed the deficit with a penalty after 25 minutes but Nokwe’s wing partner Bjorn Basson crossed unopposed from the restart for the Cheetahs’ third try, again converted by Olivier.
Blues’ winger Rene Ranger reduced the margin to two points with a try after the teams had turned around with the Cheetahs leading 22-13.
Scrumhalf Alby Mathewson gave the visitors the lead for the first and only time with 24 minutes remaining when he dived over underneath the posts from a five-metre scrum.
Their advantage lasted less than a minute when blood replacement Phillip Van der Walt crashing over for the Cheetahs’ bonus-point try on the hour for centre Meyer Bosman to convert.
Another Cheetahs replacement, Waltie Vermeulen, gave the home side their fifth try with five minutes remaining, a score cancelled out by Anthony Tuitavake’s bonus point try for the Blues. – Reuters