Late try earns Cheetahs win over Hurricanes

Cheetahs 27 Hurricanes 25

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - Ryno van der Merwe's late try earned the Cheetahs a 27-25 win over the Hurricanes in a Super 14 rugby match last night.

It was the Wellington side's first loss after three wins this season, and knocked them off the top of the table. Crusaders took over after beating the Blues 39-10.

The Cheetahs harried the visitors into early errors but first five-eighths Meyer Bosman missed two of his three penalty attempts in the first 10 minutes.

Hurricanes first five-eighths Jimmy Gopperth levelled the score with a penalty after Cheetahs fullback Bevan Fortuin was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on left wing Hosea Gear.

Hooker Andrew Hore crashed over from a rolling maul to score the first try in the 17th minute and Gopperth's conversion made it 10-3.

Hurricanes centre and captain Tana Umaga limped off with an injury a minute later.

The Cheetahs levelled the scores when prop Os du Randt corkscrewed over the line.

Hurricanes right wing Lome Fa'atau put in a searing burst down the touchline and flipped a pass to fullback Shannon Paku to reclaim the lead.

Gopperth missed the conversion but his second penalty made it 18-10 to the visitors and they extended their lead when centre Ma'a Nonu smashed through three defenders to score.

The Cheetahs struck back through Fortuin to leave the Hurricanes 25-17 ahead with 23 minutes left. Replacement halfback Noel Oelschig scrambled a drop goal.

Nonu earned a yellow card in the 70th minute for a late tackle on Bosman and the Cheetahs made the advantage count when their forwards swarmed over the goalline and number eight Van der Merwe emerged as the tryscorer.

Bosman's conversion earned the home side the win.

"We crossed the advantage line more often than we have been doing, and we had some nice breaks through the midfield," Cheetahs captain Juan Smith told reporters.

"I'm very proud of the guys, we can only build on this performance."

- REUTERS