The Waikato Chiefs' superior fitness saw them snatch a late 22-20 victory over the Central Cheetahs in a cliffhanger Super 14 rugby match yesterday.
The Chiefs scored three tries to two but it was the erratic boot of flyhalf Stephen Donald that made the telling difference.
As the Chiefs clawed their way back from a 0-17 deficit at halftime, points went begging as Donald missed two close-range penalties and a conversion.
PHOTO: REUTERS
But four minutes from time he made no mistake with a penalty from the sideline that put the Chiefs in front for the first time in the match.
Mils Muliaina, leading the Chiefs in the absence of the injured Jono Gibbes, said his side knew if they were patient the result would come.
"The boys gutsed it out," Muliaina said. "We felt going into halftime that if we built some more pressure and scored first, it could go a long way towards getting a result tonight."
It was the Chiefs' second win from four matches, although they are yet to score a bonus point, which may prove costly at the business end of the competition.
The Cheetahs, meanwhile, remain without a win but have four points from earning a bonus in every game.
They scored first against the Chiefs and throughout the first half looked as if they were going to pull off their first victory of the season.
With their heavier pack dominating up front and flyhalf Conrad Barnard keen to keep his outsides moving, it was only a matter of time before Eddie Fredericks crossed in the corner.
When the Chiefs were down to 14 men after Sitiveni Sivivatu was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on J.W. Jonker, Jongi Nokwe scored the Cheetahs second try finishing off a 60m counter attack with turnover ball.
Barnard again converted and landed a penalty to give the Cheetahs a sizeable buffer at the turn.
But the pace of the game had taken its toll on the visitors, allowing the Chiefs to build confidence especially in close, where powerful flanker Faifili Levave and halfback Brendon Leonard were a constant threat.
Leonard scored almost immediately after the resumption with Australian referee Paul Marks awarding the try even though the television match official could not see the ball grounded.
Sivivatu made amends for his earlier indiscretion when he capped off a move that featured a 30m burst by hooker Tom Willis.
Barnard's third penalty, the Cheetahs sole points in the second half, gave the South African side a 20-14 lead before Chiefs center Callum Bruce narrowed the gap to one point with a try.
Donald missed the conversion but ensured the win with a penalty when Fredericks was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on replacement wing Lelia Masaga.
The Chiefs are at home next week against the Stormers, while the Cheetahs face the Crusaders.
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