Faf de Klerk scored in the corner in the final minutes to hand the Cheetahs a 31-26 Currie Cup win over Stormers XXIII at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, condemning the home side to a defeat that had looked unlikely with four minutes remaining.
The scores were locked at 26-all when De Klerk, who was named man of the match for his second-half influence, finished off a sustained multi-phase attack to claim the decisive five-pointer. The Cheetahs ran out five-try to four winners, with the bonus-point victory lifting them to second on the log with three rounds remaining.
The Stormers made the brighter start, camping in the Cheetahs' half and earning a penalty try opportunity before Stefan Ungerer crossed in the 11th minute. The visitors hit back almost immediately through wing Prince Nkabinde, but Marko Janse van Rensburg had a try ruled out for obstruction shortly after. A yellow card to Cheetahs lock Simon Miller for cynical play at the ruck in the 33rd minute allowed the Stormers to press, and hooker Vernon Paulo powered over just before the break to give the hosts a 14-5 lead at half-time.
The Cheetahs came out sharper after the interval, with number eight Neels Volschenk reducing the deficit early in the second half. The Stormers responded through replacement Wandile Mlaba, who then compounded his try by picking up a yellow card for a tip tackle moments later. The visitors capitalised, with wing Michael Annies scoring before the Cheetahs were awarded a penalty try — and Stormers flanker Xola Nyali a yellow card — for a deliberate knock-on near the line in the 69th minute, giving the Bloemfontein side the lead for the first time.
Mlaba, back from the sin-bin, levelled at 26-all with a powerful finish through contact, but replacement Kyle Smith missed the conversion and the Cheetahs seized on the reprieve. De Klerk's late score, converted to seal the win, settled what had been a fluctuating, ill-disciplined contest.
The Stormers collected two losing bonus points and sit one point outside the top four.