11 May 2013

Hurricanes blow Cheetahs away in Bloemfontein

7:49 am on 11 May 2013

The Hurricanes have kept their slim Super Rugby playoff hopes alive with a determined 39-34 win over the Cheetahs at Bloemfontein on Saturday morning.

The South Africans were all square at 12-12 after a try-less first half but the Wellington-based side scored four tries to the Cheetahs' three - including two tries in two minutes early in the second half.

Successive defeats by the Stormers and Bulls meant the Hurricanes needed maximum points to have even a chance at a finals place.

First five eighths Beauden Barrett scored 24 points, including their opening try, while Vito, Julian Savea and TJ Perenara also dived over.