Blues defeat Cheetahs 34-33
2006-04-29 20:34
Bloemfontein - The Auckland Blues beat the Cheetahs 34-33 in their Super 14 match at the Free State stadium on Saturday.
Cheetahs flyhalf Meyer Bosman missed a stoppage-time conversion.
The Blues took a 34-28 lead and secured a bonus point with their fourth try of the game, a 74th-minute effort by Joe Rokocoko.
Late pressure from the Cheetahs, however, saw hooker Tiaan Liebenberg crashing through the visiting defence to touch down.
Bosman missed his kick from close to the right-hand touchline.
The Cheetahs led 25-20 at halftime.
Fullback Bevin Fortuin first put his team in front when he skipped past three defenders for a second-minute try.
Blues flyhalf Luke McAllister kicked two penalties before the Cheetahs got the ball back and Gaffie du Toit sped through to score on the left wing.
Du Toit followed up his try with a 50m drop goal, but the Blues stayed in touch with a try by McAllister under the posts.
Fortuin and wing Giscard Pieters scored to clinch the Cheetahs a bonus point before halftime.
A converted try by Isa Nacewa - who passed to Kaino before looping around to collect the return - boosted the Blues.
Bosman then kicked a penalty to give his team the single-point lead that lasted until Rokocoko's late try.
The Cheetahs got a second bonus point for losing by less than seven points.
- AP