Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush's last-minute try clinched a 50-47 win against the Cheetahs in an 11-try Super Rugby thriller on Saturday.

The lead changed hands 12 times at the Free State Stadium as two of the competition's strugglers defied cold, wet conditions to put on an exceptional display of attacking rugby.

Both teams went into the match with only one win in the first two months of the competition and the Cheetahs looked set to win in front of their home supporters as they held a 47-43 lead and were attacking deep in the Hurricanes' half as the game went into its last seconds.

But a pass from Cheetahs try-scoring hat-trick hero, halfback Sarel Pretorius, went astray and the New Zealand team counter-attacked.

The Cheetahs defence was stretched beyond the limit and Thrush was unchallenged as he received the final pass and stormed in for the winning try.

The Hurricanes scored six tries, through Hosea Gear (2), Jack Lam, Andre Taylor, Alapati Leiua and Thrush, with fly-half Dan Kirkpatrick adding three conversions and four penalties, while replacement Beauden Barrett converted the final try.

Pretorius had an outstanding game for the Cheetahs, scoring three tries, while debutant wing Riaan Smit scored twice.

Fly-half Sias Ebersohn converted all five tries, kicked two penalties and two dropped goals.

The match started at a hectic pace, with both teams scoring two tries within the first 17 minutes, and it seldom slackened.

The Hurricanes secured a bonus point as early as the 25th minute when right wing Leiua raced away for his team's fourth try.

Kirkpatrick's conversion put the New Zealand team 27-20 ahead.

But despite trailing 3-4 in the try count, the Cheetahs went into halftime leading 33-30 after Ebersohn kicked two drop-goals within two minutes shortly before the break.

"It's been a tough old season," said Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore after his team pulled away from the bottom of the New Zealand conference log.

"You had two teams that were lagging a bit in the competition who went out to play some good rugby and show both franchises what they are capable of."

A disappointed Cheetahs captain Wilhelm Steenkamp said: "You must play until the end, not for 78 or 79 minutes."

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