Chiefs in thrilling draw against Cheetahs

Tim Nanai-Williams scored the Chiefs' last minute try.

A piece of brilliance by Tim Nanai-Williams after the full time siren has seen the Chiefs fight back to post a 43-43 draw against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

After a slow first 40 minutes and trailing 34-10 at halftime, the Chiefs showed their composure as they bagged five second half tries to share the honours in an nerve racking encounter.

The Cheetahs had the four try bonus point locked away when blindside flanker Boom Prinsloo rumbled over after the Chiefs struggled to defuse the driving maul with the South African side going into the interval with a well deserved 34-10 lead.

Needing to strike first in the second spell, the Chiefs soldiered on with some much needed possession and field position but the Cheetahs defence withstood the onslaught.
Eventually the Chiefs found the breakthrough as Pulu darted through as he bagged his second five pointer in the match to offer his side some hope.

An excellent effort by wing Tim Nanai-Williams saw him poach the ball out of the hands of an opposing player for the try.

Moments later the Chiefs were in again for their fourth try when Nanai-Williams sparked the attack once more and resulted in the other winger Asaeli Tikoirotuma to run in uncontested and narrow the margin to 37-29.

The Fijian flyer, Tikoirotuma wasn't done as he cashed in for his second try after some brilliant interplay between the backs and forwards in the lead up as the Chiefs stormed right back into the contest.

A pair of Goosen penalties put the Cheetahs out to a seven point lead but then Nanai-Williams jinked his way past the defence to score under the posts after the full time hooter had sounded and Cruden slotted the conversion to even up the scores 43-43.

The Chiefs return home from their three week trip of Australia and South Africa after two successive draws and will prepare to host the Melbourne Rebels at Waikato Stadium.
The match will played next Saturday with kickoff scheduled at 7.35pm.

Chiefs: 43 (Pulu 2, Tikoirotuma 2, Nanai-Williams 2 tries; Cruden pen, 5 con)
Cheetahs: 43 (Pretorius 2, Benjamin, Prinsloo tries; Goosen 5 pen, 4 con)