Cheetahs 10 Chiefs 28
The Chiefs continued their Super 14 rugby title charge with a sixth consecutive win over the bottom-placed Cheetahs in Kimberley today.
The Chiefs made hard work of the first match of their South African tour but the 28-10 scoreline accurately reflected a contest where they dominated possession and territory on the high veldt.
Trailing 6-7 at halftime, the visitors scored all their tries in the second half and with the Crusaders upsetting the Sharks 13-10 in Durban, the Chiefs lead the competition ahead of their clash with semifinal rivals the Bulls in Pretoria next weekend.
Captain Mils Muliaina relished a rare win on South African soil as the Chiefs came off the bye to keep their winning run alive with tries to reserves Hika Elliott, Serge Lilo and Mike Delany.
"We're pretty stoked and I take my hat off to the bench, they were probably the difference today," Muliaina told Super Sport.
"We were a little bit frustrated in that first half but we felt we needed to be patient and wear them down, and we did that.
"We were unfortunate not to get that bonus point try but I'm pretty stoked with how the boys went. We haven't won in South Africa for a very long time so we'll definitely enjoy tonight. " Loose forward Liam Messam was named man of the match.
The Chiefs, without their injured wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga, somehow trailed at the break after they dominated much of the first half but struggled to finish their numerous attacking raids.
The Juan Smith-led Cheetahs, buoyed by their 31-6 upset of the high-flying Sharks a week previously, defended stoutly then found themselves in front when winger Jongi Nokwe finished off an overlap in the 33rd minute.
Chiefs first five-eighth Stephen Donald went closest to score in the first half but he lost the ball over the line, and his two penalties were all the visitors had to show at the break.
Halfback Brendon Leonard departed injured just before halftime, adding to the Chiefs' angst.
But reserve hooker Elliott made an instant impact to notch the Chiefs' first try two minutes after halftime when he darted 30m from a ruck after good leadup work from Muliaina and Sione Lauaki.
Donald again went close to scoring but was denied by Cheetahs midfielder Meyer Bosman as he chased a kick through, but the Chiefs were starting to gain the upper hand.
A penalty to Cheetahs kicker Jacques-Louis Potgieter narrowed the Chiefs' lead to 13-10 with 13 minutes to go, but the visitors never gave their hosts a sniff from then on.
Lilo scored in controversial fashion when replays showed flanker Tanerau Latimer was in touch in possession, to give the Chiefs an eight-point lead.
Then Donald's 73rd minute penalty gave them breathing space when hard-working Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brussow was yellow carded for a professional foul.
Delany sealed the win soon afterwards with a slick solo try as he shrugged off several defenders, then added the conversion.
A bonus point try beckoned in the dying seconds but the Chiefs couldn't quite finish what was an otherwise satisfying day at the office.
Chiefs 28 (Hika Elliott, Serge Lilo, Mike Delany tries; Stephen Donald 3 pen, con, Delany con) Cheetahs 10 (Jongi Nokwe try; Jacques-Louis Potgieter pen, con). Halftime: 6-7.
- NZPA
