Flyhalf Siya Masuku scored 16 points as the Cheetahs came back to edge the Vodacom Bulls in a crunch Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Cheetahs fought back from a 19-point deficit and then stood strong in defence for a 31-27 victory that moved the Free Staters to the top of the table, pending the result of the Sharks game. The Bulls banked two vital bonus points to qualify for the semi-finals in fourth place.
In what was the final appearance at Loftus for Springbok veterans Morne Steyn and Bismarck Du Plessis, the Bulls got off to the perfect start by racing to a 19-0 lead within 15 minutes. Steyn converted two of the tries from winger Cornal Hendricks, centre Harold Vorster and scrumhalf Embrose Papier as the hosts ran riot.
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However, the Cheetahs refused to lie down, fighting back with tries from centre David Brits and winger Daniel Kasende, converted by Masuku to cut the deficit to 19-14 with five minutes to go in the first half.
The contest was irreversibly altered just before the half-time hooter when the Bulls were permanently reduced to 14 men as loose forward Elrigh Louw was shown a red card for a dangerous cleanout.
Steyn kept the scoreboard ticking with a penalty immediately after the restart but the Cheetahs made the numerical advantage count, scoring two quick tries through Masuku and scrumhalf Ruben Kruger as they took the lead for the first time in the match (28-22) with 30 minutes to go.
The Loftus crowd came to its feet moments later as fans paid tribute to Steyn who left the pitch for the final time in Pretoria.
Hendricks narrowed the gap to just one point at the start of the final quarter as he went over for his second of the afternoon, the conversion sailing wide (28-27).
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Masuku slotted a penalty with less than 10 minutes remaining to stretch the Cheetahs advantage to four points, and the visitors hunkered down to defend their line against waves of Bulls attack before the final whistle.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
