Cheetahs 41-45 Highlanders: Visitors score three late tries for win
Last Updated: 06/05/17 12:06am
The Highlanders pulled off a breathtaking comeback with three converted tries in the last five minutes to overcome a 41-24 deficit and beat the Cheetahs 45-41 in Super Rugby on Friday.
Waisake Naholo scored the game-clinching try as the final hooter sounded to end a stirring, seesaw match that saw the teams produce 12 tries, score six each, and put on 61 points in the second half.
The Dunedin-based Highlanders looked out of it twice in Bloemfontein, at 22-10 down early in the second half and then 17 points behind in the dying minutes.
Left wing Tevita Li began the final comeback in the 75th minute, full-back Matt Faddes finished off a long-range break in the 77th, and right wing Naholo was free on an overlap to complete a hectic last-gasp attack from the Highlanders for his second try of the night.
The Highlanders were ahead 10-8 against the Cheetahs before yellow cards either side of the half-time break to Faddes and replacement forward Siate Tokolahi gave the impetus to the Cheetahs.
The home team crossed twice through wing Sergeal Petersen and hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld to take it out to 22-10.
The Highlanders replied with their first flurry of tries, with centre Rob Thompson and Naholo scoring in the space of three minutes to wrestle back the lead at 24-22.
The Cheetahs gained the initiative again, catching the Highlanders off-guard with long-range counters from across the field to score through Teboho Mohoje, Tian Meyer and a fabulous team try finished off by prop Ox Nche.
That try by Nche in the 60th minute was the last score for the Cheetahs, who still seemed certain to have worn the Highlanders out with a big lead and just five minutes to play.
The Highlanders had enough left for one final match-winning surge with the Cheetahs now down to 14 men with Uzair Cassiem in the sin bin.
"We were definitely put under the pump there," Highlanders captain Luke Whitelock said. "But the guys' belief in the last five minutes, we had nothing to lose. We just had to go out and pull the trigger."
