**Too many wasted opportunities and errors that cost them potential momentum was the by now all too familiar complaint that South African coaches shared after a disappointing round for the local teams in Guinness PRO14.** The Toyota Cheetahs used the strong gale-force wind at their backs to good effect in Newport on Saturday to open up a 10 point lead at the break but coach Hawies Fourie agreed that they needed to be further ahead to challenge for the win that was so necessary for them in their challenge for a place in the Finals Series. The Dragons came back to win 13-10. That means the Cheetahs did pick up a bonus point and with the Glasgow Warriors being outplayed 55-19 by Leinster on Friday night the gap between the Cheetahs and the Final Series bracket is now just two points. With the Cheetahs heading home to play six games in Bloemfontein they are still well in the hunt but Fourie lamented the mistakes that cost his team the chance of returning to South Africa in third place, which would put them in the play-off zone, in their Conference. Isuzu Southern Kings coach Robbi Kempson, who is desperate for a win just to generate some faith among the team’s supporters, was left frustrated with his team’s inability to properly capitalise on the numerical advantage they had after Connacht’s replacement backline player Peter Robb was sent off in the 15th minute of Sunday’s match in Port Elizabeth. The Kings did fight back in a 10 minute period when the visitors were down to 13 men to turn a 14-0 deficit into 14-all, but Connacht drew away again to win 29-19. “We had a plan that had been put in place during the week and in my opinion we have the best attack coach in world rugby in Swys de Bruin assisting us but then we butcher four scoring opportunities in the first half and you can’t do that and expect to win,” said Kempson.
