The Bolanders, searching for their first win in this year’s competition, scored a bonus-point try with 12 minutes remaining to come within a point of the high-flying visitors, only for flyhalf Lionel Cornelius to miss what might have been the match-winning conversion.
Despite their third consecutive defeat, the home side at least had the consolation of picking up two bonus points, while outscoring their more fancied Free State opponents by four tries to three in a free-flowing match in which the backs scored most of the points.
The Cheetahs, who came into the match lying second on the South log with two wins from three matches, opened the scoring in the first minute through outside centre JW Jonker, following good work from wing Mayibuye ‘Beast’ Ndwandwa.
Scrumhalf Jandré Blom, who would finish with a personal haul of 15 points, kicked the conversion.
But the Bolanders, lying fifth on the log, responded with a quarter of an hour gone with a try from right wing Godwann Damon after good work from his wing partner Alvin Hugo. Cornelius’s conversion levelled the scores.
The Free Staters then went ahead thanks to two penalties from Blom in the 21st and 32nd minutes to extend the lead to 13-7, but it was the Cavaliers who went into the break holding a slender advantage thanks to a good try from fullback Daniel Smith following a break by former Maties star Ernie Kruger.
Cornelius once again made no mistake with the conversion.
The Free Staters regained the lead in the 41st minute when Jonker’s centre partner Wayne Stevens rounded off a good backline movement and Blom added the extra points to make it 20-14.
Cornelius and Blom then traded penalties to maintain the visitors’ six-point lead before Smith scored his second try on the hour mark, converted by Cornelius, to the delight of the large crowd.
But the Cavaliers’ lead was again short-lived, as lock Marnus Briedenhann barged over for a seven-pointer for the Free Staters to make it 30-24 after 62 minutes.
With play becoming increasingly frantic, it was replacement flanker Alfredo Barends who provided the biggest cheer of the day when he dotted down in the 68th minute to cut the deficit to a single point.
But the festivities soon turned silent when Cornelius, who had kicked beautifully on a very hot afternoon, missed the difficult kick that would have broken the Cavaliers’ duck.
Scorers:
Cavaliers 29 – Tries: Godwann Damon, Daniel Smith (2), Alfredo Barends. Conversions: Lionel Cornelius (3). Penalty: Cornelius.
Free State 30 – Tries: JW Jonker, Wayne Stevens, Marnus Briedenhann. Conversions: Jandré Blom (3). Penalties: Blom (3).