BLOEMFONTEIN (Reuters) - Cheetahs flyhalf Sias Ebersohn scored 23 points and his brother Robert scored a try in a 33-20 victory over New Zealand's Canterbury Crusaders on Saturday in a Super rugby match.
Man of the match Sias Ebersohn scored a try of his own and kicked 18 points in a near-faultless performance to condemn the visitors to their third loss in 12 matches.
The result leaves the Crusaders trailing countrymen Auckland Blues by five points at the top of the New Zealand conference.
The underachieving Cheetahs are likely out of playoff contention in the South African conference and while this was only their fourth win from 12 matches it was their third on the trot -- a franchise record.
"It was a great day for Cheetah rugby," said skipper Adriaan Strauss. "We've had some tough times this season and credit to the coaching staff. Against the Crusaders you can never say you've got it in the bag but we did what we needed to do."
In a free-flowing match in which the home side's defence stood firm against the seven-time champions, Sias Ebersohn opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty but it was the visitors who scored the first try through winger Zac Guildford.
Flyhalf Daniel Carter, returning from injury, kicked the conversion on his way to a haul of 12 points which also included a fie individual try.
Carter added a penalty to make it 10-3 but the Cheetahs drew level soon after when Robert Ebersohn darted over following good work by wing Riaan Smit and a sniping break upfield by scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius.
Two penalties gave Cheetahs a six-point buffer but Carter scooted through just before halftime for a converted try to restore his team's lead.
Sias Ebersohn booted a fourth penalty after 51 minutes before the left-footed flyhalf brought the crowd to their feet with a 50-metre breakaway run down the grandstand touchline after the Crusaders had turned over a ruck ball.
Crusaders replacement flyhalf Matt Berquist kicked a penalty on the hour to reduce the deficit, but the Cheetahs closed out the game in style when flanker Ashley Johnson poached a loose ball to sprint clear from 40 metres.
"We made mistakes and didn't feel we were in control of the game," said Crusaders captain Richie McCaw. "We got desperate and came second. The way we played tonight we will have to make many improvements if we are to be there at the end."
Man of the match Sias Ebersohn scored a try of his own and kicked 18 points in a near-faultless performance to condemn the visitors to their third loss in 12 matches.
The result leaves the Crusaders trailing countrymen Auckland Blues by five points at the top of the New Zealand conference.
The underachieving Cheetahs are likely out of playoff contention in the South African conference and while this was only their fourth win from 12 matches it was their third on the trot -- a franchise record.
"It was a great day for Cheetah rugby," said skipper Adriaan Strauss. "We've had some tough times this season and credit to the coaching staff. Against the Crusaders you can never say you've got it in the bag but we did what we needed to do."
In a free-flowing match in which the home side's defence stood firm against the seven-time champions, Sias Ebersohn opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty but it was the visitors who scored the first try through winger Zac Guildford.
Flyhalf Daniel Carter, returning from injury, kicked the conversion on his way to a haul of 12 points which also included a fie individual try.
Carter added a penalty to make it 10-3 but the Cheetahs drew level soon after when Robert Ebersohn darted over following good work by wing Riaan Smit and a sniping break upfield by scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius.
Two penalties gave Cheetahs a six-point buffer but Carter scooted through just before halftime for a converted try to restore his team's lead.
Sias Ebersohn booted a fourth penalty after 51 minutes before the left-footed flyhalf brought the crowd to their feet with a 50-metre breakaway run down the grandstand touchline after the Crusaders had turned over a ruck ball.
Crusaders replacement flyhalf Matt Berquist kicked a penalty on the hour to reduce the deficit, but the Cheetahs closed out the game in style when flanker Ashley Johnson poached a loose ball to sprint clear from 40 metres.
"We made mistakes and didn't feel we were in control of the game," said Crusaders captain Richie McCaw. "We got desperate and came second. The way we played tonight we will have to make many improvements if we are to be there at the end."
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