Chiefs seal late comeback
The Chiefs bounced back from a 17-0 half-time deficit to edge out the Cheetahs 22-20 at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
Last Updated: 08/03/08 9:41am
The Chiefs bounced back from a 17-0 half-time deficit to edge out the Cheetahs 22-20 at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
The Cheetahs seemed on course to finally break their Super 14s duck for 2008 - only for a disappointing second-half showing in Hamilton to cost them.
Eddie Fredericks got Cheetahs off the mark when he showed a clean set of heels to round off a swift attack after just 10 minutes, with Conrad Barnard adding the extras.
Sitiveni Sivivatu's reckless tackle on JW Jonker added to the Chiefs shocking start, earning him 10 minutes in the sin-bin. Barnard took the three points on offer and coach Naka Drotske must have thought this would finally be his side's day.
In fact it got better before the half hour mark when quick hands to Jongi Nokwe enabled the speedster to cruise over for a converted try.
Close
The Chiefs did have their moments with Stephen Donald missing two penalties and Brendon Leonard going close before the interval.
However Leonard was not to be denied as the scrum-half crossed after the break.
This gave the Chiefs the kick-start they needed with Sivivatu making amends for his sin-binning with the second try.
Both tries were converted by Donald to cut the gap to three points, although Barnard did give the South Africans some breathing space with a penalty.
The Chiefs continued to pressurise though and they were rewarded with a try from Callum Bruce.
Donald missed the conversion, however with Fredericks yellow carded for a high challenge on Lelia Masaga, the Chiefs fly-half stepped up to slot over the winning penalty.
