Chiefs 22 Cheetahs 20
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The Chiefs fought back to scrape out a 22-20 win over the unluckey Cheetahs in a classic Super 14 rugby game of two halves in Hamilton tonight.
Down 0-17 at halftime, the hosts scored three tries in the second half and needed a late penalty from first five-eighth
Stephen Donald to beat their winless opponents at Waikato Stadium.
It looked like a major boilover was in the offing as the Cheetahs dominated the first spell, scoring two tries in the process, but they tired as the match wore on.
The Chiefs also lowered their error rate considerably after halftime to notch their second win through four rounds.
Their best were powerful flanker Faifili Levave and halfback Brendon Leonard, who was a constant threat close to the tryline.
The Cheetahs' pack was impressive at set piece and the breakdown throughout the first half and both their tries were expertly worked through the backs.
They opened the scoring through a slick score to winger Eddie Fredericks in the 12th minute before first five-eighth Conrad Barnard rounded out a dominant opening 20 minutes with a penalty.
The penalty came for a dangerous lifting tackle from winger Sitiveni Sivivatu on Cheetahs centre JW Jonker, for which Sivivatu was sinbinned.
Donald missed the first of two penalty attempts, illustrating his erratic form with the boot this season, before the visitors responded with a classic counter-attacking try to flying winger Jongi Nokwe.
Donald had another miss and Leonard was held up over the tryline as the Chiefs ended the break on a frustrating note.
Momentum swung almost immediately after halftime, with Leonard awarded a try by Australian referee Paul Marks even though the third match official couldn't see any grounding of the ball when referred to.
Sivivatu closed the gap further with half an hour remaining after backing up a sweeping move from inside the Chiefs half, which included a 30m burst from hooker Tom Willis.
Barnard extended the lead to six with a penalty but the Chiefs pulled within one when second five-eighth Callum Bruce scored in another pile of bodies over the tryline.
The hosts finally assumed the lead with 4min remaining when Donald found his radar and landed a penalty from the sideline.
It emanated from a high tackle by Fredericks on reserve winger Lelia Masaga, who seemed certain to score until stopped.
Marks would have been within his rights to award a penalty try for the offence, which earned Fredericks a yellow card.
The Chiefs are at home again next week against the Stormers while the Cheetahs face the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Chiefs 22 (Brendon Leonard, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Callum Bruce tries; Stephen Donald pen, 2 con) Cheetahs 20 (Eddie Fredericks, Jongi Nokwe tries; Conrad Barnard 2 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 17-0.
- NZPA