Chiefs 22 Cheetahs 20

The Chiefs have produced an outstanding second half comeback to steal the points in their Super 14 rugby clash against the Cheetahs in Hamilton tonight.

Trailing 0-17 at the break, the Chiefs have stormed back to win the game 22-20 with a powerful second half effort that eliminated all the errors that had plagued them in the first half.

The Chiefs got back in the game early when halfback Brendon Leonard crossed  for their first try to close to 17-7.

That became 17-14 with a try 10 minutes later to winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, again converted by first five-eighth Stephen Donald.

The Cheetahs then extended their lead to 20-14 with a second penalty to Conrad Barnard, but the Chiefs came back with their third try to second five-eighth Callum Bruce.

Donald missed the handy conversion that would have given them the lead but made no mistake with five minutes remaining with a penalty kick after Lelia Masaga was felled in a high tackle when he appeared set to score.

Winger Jongi Nokwe was yellow-carded for the high shot on Masaga but that did not stop the 14-man Cheetahs outfit throwing everything at the Chiefs in the final few minutes in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to snatch the winning points.

The Chiefs second half performance was in complete contrast to the first which was full of errors and turnovers.

The Cheetahs scored two first half tries, to wingers Eddie Fredericks and Jongi Nokwe, both converted by Barnard who added a penalty.

The Nokwe try was scored while the Chiefs were down to 14 men with winger Sitiveni Sivivatu sinbinned for a dangerous tackle in the 19th minute.

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