The NSW Waratahs kept their Super 14 finals hopes alive with an 18-10 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

The two-tries-to-nil victory moved the Waratahs up to fourth place, ahead of the Crusaders, who earlier on Friday scored a 32-20 bonus-point win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

NSW dominated the set pieces, pressurising the Cheetahs scrum and pinching several of their lineout throws.

Outstanding fullback Lachie Turner crossed and five-eighth Daniel Halangahu kicked a penalty to give NSW an 8-0 halftime lead.

Cheetahs five-eighth Naas Olivier kicked a penalty early in the second half to narrow the deficit to five points.

But Halangahu converted a 58th-minute try to replacement halfback Luke Burgess and landed a penalty to give the Waratahs a match-winning 18-3 advantage.

Replacement JW Jonker scored a late try for the Cheetahs, who came close on a couple more occasions before the end.

NSW missed a number of other scoring opportunities, with winger Lote Tuqiri dropping the ball over the line before leaving the field with a knee injury on the half hour.

The new centre combination of Kurtley Beale and Timana Tahu caused the Cheetahs plenty of problems.

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