Cheetahs 27-41 Chiefs: Waikato mount stunning comeback
Last Updated: 16/04/17 10:01am
Waikato Chiefs produced a stunning comeback to overturn a 24-point deficit and beat Central Cheetahs of South Africa 41-27 on Saturday.
Trailing 24-0 after 22 minutes, the visitors responded with a six-try burst to claim a bonus-point victory at Free State stadium in Bloemfontein.
Even a second-half yellow card for prop Kane Hames could not upset the visitors, who outscored the hosts by eight points to three while he was in the sin-bin.
Winning enabled the two-time champions Chiefs to climb one place to second in the New Zealand conference, two points behind Canterbury Crusaders.
Defeat completed a miserable week for the Cheetahs, who learnt that they are likely to be axed from the competition next season when it is reduced from 18 teams to 15.
Fly-half Niel Marais kicked a penalty and converted tries by winger Raymond Rhule, hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld and centre Francois Venter as the Cheetahs flew out of the traps.
But the lead was trimmed to 24-14 at the half as winger Toni Pulu scored two tries, Cruden converting both.
Marais slotted another penalty on 50 minutes to stretch the lead, but those were the final points scored by the South Africans as the Chiefs took total control.
Cruden kicked a penalty and two conversions and scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, wingers James Lowe and substitute Shaun Stevenson, and replacement hooker Hika Elliot sored tries.
