March 31 (Reuters) – The Cheetahs fought back after a
withering first-half assault to storm home 47-38 over the
Wellington Hurricanes in their Super Rugby match on Saturday.
The win at Wellington’s Westpac stadium was a
morale-boosting finish to the Cheetahs’ tour of Australia and
New Zealand, the Bloemfontein-based team returning home with a
2-2 record after a pair of gallant losses to the Canberra-based
ACT Brumbies and the Canterbury Crusaders.
The Hurricanes ran over four tries to charge into a 32-11
lead by the 31st minute, but were stunned as the Cheetahs hit
back with three of their own to finish level at the break.
Tighthead prop WP Nel ratcheted up the pressure with a try
15 minutes after half-time and loosehead Coeni Oosthuizen drove
over the line in the 69th before the Cheetahs defended grimly to
take the bonus point victory.
“It was definitely a great victory … and it’s a nice way
to end off the tour,” captain Adriaan Strauss said in a
pitchside interview.
“They’ve got their never-say-die attitude … It’s a good
place for us to start building on now for when we get home.”
Hooker Dane Coles got the Hurricanes off to a flying start
by shimmying past a defender to cross near the left post less
than three minutes in.
Cheetahs inside centre Andries Strauss touched down near the
right hand corner soon after, however, and was awarded the try
after a lengthy television review.
The Hurricanes then capitalised on turnovers deep in their
own territory to score three tries on the break.
Continued…
