Super Rugby: The Hurricanes roar in Bloemfontein
The Hurricanes bounced back from last week's defeat to the Bulls with a 39-34 win at the Cheetahs.
Last Updated: 10/05/13 8:54pm
After a cagey opening 40, second-half tries from Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, TJ Perenara and Victor Vito saw the Hurricanes claim the win.
The bonus-point victory lifts the Hurricanes up to eighth in the overall standings, but they crucially remain fourth in the New Zealand conference.
Naka Drotske's Cheetahs could not back up their good form on the road but managed to pick up a losing bonus-point via a late Elgar Watts penalty.
The 'Canes came out with pride on the line after that heavy loss at Loftus and set about taking a 9-0 lead thanks to the boot of fly-half Barrett.
Burton Francis responded though and the teams went in at the break at 12 points apiece in what was a half the 'Canes had the better of.
With Robert Ebersohn having been in the sin-bin from minute 15, the Cheetahs would have been very happy with the interval scoreline.
The first try of the match came in the 51st minute, when Barrett crossed in the corner, barging over replacement scrum-half Sarel Pretorius close to the right touchline to make it 17-12.
The visitors crossed the line again a minute later. All Blacks winger Savea chased his own kick and gathered to score the Hurricanes' second try of the evening for a 22-12 lead.
The Cheetahs though persevered and both loosehead prop Coenie Oosthuizen, with two tries, and inside centre Ebersohn, with one, kept the home side in the free-flowing game.
The 'Canes added two further tries as scrum-half Perenara and number eight Vito scored. Barrett sealed the result with penalties, his accurate kicking sealing a priceless victory.