KEY POINTS:
At least the Chiefs have got the bonus point bogey off their backs. But they still carry the onus of actually winning a game.
In each of their first four matches, the Chiefs have had to settle for a bonus point loss - sometimes unluckily, sometimes letting themselves down. But for Stephen Donald, whose ice-cool penalty kick from 45m tied the scores post-hooter, this would have been another bonus point loss after the Chiefs saw a 16-3 lead become a 19-16 deficit.
An early wire report said it all: 'The Chiefs' winless run in the Super 14 rugby championship is over after settling for a 22-22 draw with the Cheetahs', it trilled - apparently unaware a draw is not a win. Many watching this match weren't quite sure what was happening either.
The Chiefs seemed to have the winning of the game in their wingers - big Roy Kinikinilau who gave the Cheetahs any number of frights early on and the slippery Lelia Masaga who started and scored a terrific try in a 65m movement where Masaga blazed around four bewildered Cheetahs defenders.
It was a rare moment of class in a match largely devoid of same although it is clear the Chiefs will find some form as soon as they notch that elusive first win. They have a bye next week, which will be useful, although it looked as if they might play the Lions in Hamilton on March 16 without bustling centre Niva Ta'auso.
He played a key role in Masaga's try but was stretchered off with a neck injury - although it turned out there was no structural damage.
However, if it is too early to know about Ta'auso's involvement in the next game, it is not necessarily too early to ponder that the Chiefs' season may have serious structural damage. The playoffs are not out of sight but only a victory will now do.
The shame of it was that the Chiefs largely had themselves to blame although the Cheetahs must be praised for a dogged comeback. They do not play like their namesake. They are not pacy cats who can run down gazelles. They are more like rhinos and even have a loose forward called Ryno (van der Merwe) who ended up in the front row of depowered scrums when the Cheetahs front row was injured.
But the Cheetahs at least know their limitations and play to a strict game plan - set pieces, kick for territory, kick the goals and maul or drive for tries.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, having proven they had the winning of the game through Nos 11 and 14, set about some unconvincing tactical kicking from the likes of halfback Jamie Nutbrown, fullback Dwayne Sweeney and, on occasion, Donald.
This helped the Cheetahs back into the game with first five-eighths Willem de Waal slamming the ball downfield from the hand and between the posts from penalties. A Chiefs defensive error, with Kinikinilau storming ahead too fast in the rush defence, let Marius Joubert slip through and put new fullback Tiger Mangweni under the posts.
They trailed only 16-13 at halftime - an impossibly good score for the Cheetahs as they had been outclassed all over the place to that point.
While they were the authors of their own misfortune, the Chiefs were also unlucky - driving over the line twice but the video referee ruled (correctly, it seemed) that he could not see a touchdown. The Cheetahs also had a rolling maul try ruled inconclusive and just missed scoring from a chargedown of a Nutbrown kick.
And then came the final moments and Donald's growing status as a goalkicker was underlined with his pressure kick for the draw.
The Cheetahs' replacement flanker Kabamba Floors - whose Shirley Temple fake blond hairdo makes him look like a Smurf with a pigmentation disorder - played a fine hand in the rucks and mauls, thwarting the Chiefs as they pressed hard late in the game.
For the Chiefs, Sione Lauaki showed some signs of returning to his best and fellow loose forwards Liam Messam and Tamati Ellison looked inspired selections as they ruled the roost early although Springbok loosie Juan Smith came to the fore as the game progressed.
The Chiefs badly need to step outside the vicious cycle of near-misses they appear to be locked in. Win one, just one, and the confidence to finish opponents off should return.
Skipper Tom Willis said breaking through for their first win had become something hanging over the players' heads.
"If anyone said they're not conscious of it, they're lying," he said. "But this team is getting better each week, we're starting to play a good brand of football and I think there's good things to come from this team down the track. In the second half of the competition we're going to be a force."
Cheetahs 22 (T. Mangweni try; W. de Waal con, 5 pen), Chiefs 22 (L. Masaga try; S. Donald con, 5 pen). Halftime: Chiefs 16-13.
