A Rayno Benjamin try with 13 minutes remaining helped spare the Cheetahs blushes as they defeated the Sunwolves 38-31 in a closely fought game encounter in Bloemfontein.

It was the boot of Fred Zeilinga which proved the difference with the teams tied on four tries apiece, with the Cheetahs fly-half adding four penalties to his three conversions to secure the win.

The Sunwolves were quickest off the blocks, as Shota Emi touched down after a minute but the Cheetahs fired back with Torsten Van Jaarsveld touching down after the quarter hour.

Zeilinga converted and added a penalty to put the home side ahead. But it remained tit for tat for the remainder of the half, with Hayden Cripps touching down and converting his own try to put the Japanese side back in front at 14-10.

Zeilinga narrowed the margin with a penalty and then converted Teboho Mahoje's try as the South African side looked to record back-to-back victories in Super Rugby since their opening round defeat to the Lions. Cripps narrowed the gap to three, 20-17, at the break with a penalty.

After the restart Zeilinga converted a penalty and then Clinton Swart's try to push their lead out to 30-17.

Incredibly, the Sunwolves replied with a brace from Kenki Fukuoka to put them into a one-point lead before their hopes were dashed by a yewllow card to replacement Takuma Asahara with 15 minutes remaining.

It proved the Sunwolves undoing as Rayno Benjamin crossed for a try and a Zeilinga penalty sealed victory for the Cheetahs in the final quarter.