Cheetahs dent Crusaders Super 14 title hopes
Canterbury Crusaders hopes of reaching the Super 14 semi-finals suffered a massive blow on Saturday when they lost 20-13 to bottom team Central Cheetahs.
It was just the second win in 10 matches for the Cheetahs, who just two weeks ago shocked then leaders Coastal Sharks of South Africa also in Bloemfontein.
In a match of few try-scoring chances, the home side made the most of the little ball that came their way while the visitors had no answer to a splendid defensive effort by the home side.
Despite the victory, Cheetahs remain rooted to the bottom of the table while the Crusaders, thanks to a last-gasp penalty by Leon MacDonald, snatched a bonus point and lie eighth with 27 points.
Against the run of play, the home side enjoyed a 10-7 lead at the interval after a first half characterised by strong defence in which both teams scored a converted try, but Cheetahs had more points on the board thanks to a penalty by new fly-half Naas Olivier.
Crusaders opened the scoring on 10 minutes when scrum-half Kahn Fotuali?i darted over from the base of a ruck after the visitors had spent a good deal of time camped in Cheetahs territory.
Despite all the ball that came their way, the defending champions did not score again in the opening stanza with good defence from the Cheetahs thwarting a number of opportunities.
Olivier got his team on the scoreboard after 27 minutes with a penalty and eight minutes later Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe scored a superb try after cutting in and taking a pass from centre Corne Uys. Olivier converted to give his side a three-point advantage.
It didn?t stay that way for long as soon after the restart Crusaders fly-half Stephen Brett knocked over a penalty to level the scores, but the Cheetahs went into the final quarter in the ascendancy after a second Olivier penalty.
And while the New Zealanders did most of the attacking in the latter stages, it was the Cheetahs who scored the only try of the second period.
In a rare visit to Crusaders territory, fullback Hennie Daniller crossed next to the uprights after taking a slick pass by Olivier, whose darting run opened a huge hole. Olivier converted the try to give his side a 10-point lead with nine minutes remaining.
MacDonald then knocked over a penalty from the right touchline to ensure his side did not leave the central city empty handed.
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