The lowly Cheetahs recorded just their third win of the season and ended the semifinals ambitions of the Auckland Blues with a 36-32 victory in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

A Blues side lacking injured skipper and hooker Keven Mealamu needed a bonus-point win to retain any hope of making the knockout phase and must have fancied their chances against rivals who had won just twice in 10 outings.

But the Cheetahs scored a try 150 seconds into the first half at Vodacom Park and when they fell behind midway through the second half, they quickly regained the lead for a deserved triumph.

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