'Soft moments' cost Cheetahs
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske said that his team's semifinal loss to the Sharks can be put down to a few crucial lapses.
The Free State side came up short at Kings Park, as the Sharks made better use of their opportunities to book a place in the final.
Drotske said that the period just before half-time had been particularly costly, as Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambie managed to put some daylight between the teams.
“We were in the game for the first 35 minutes and then a few soft moments, loss of concentration in the last few minutes before half-time, cost us 10 points and it's always tough to come back from that.
“I think the Sharks used their opportunities better. We had our chances in the first half but didn’t take them," he said.
Drotske added that his team did not handle the pressure very well, and failed to take the opportunities on offer.
“There were one or two tries that we should have scored. There was some wrong decision making under pressure and that was crucial. So it's a disappointing end for us.”
SAPA