Cheetahs win at the Shark Tank

THE battle for top of the log lived up to expectations when the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs outplayed the Sharks 42-22 (halftime 16-22) to remain unbeaten in the Absa Currie Cup in torrid weather conditions in Durban on Saturday.

Both teams executed their moves to perfection in the first half and the game was a see-saw affair with the lead changing hands six times in the same period despite blustery winds and the rain bucketing down at the Absa Stadium. The Sharks, who have not beaten the Cheetahs since 2003, had suffered a setback when Captain AJ Venter was withdrawn at the eleventh hour before kick-off due to injury and the home side were dominated upfront early on as they seemed to miss star forward Bismarck Du Plessis, who was drafted into the World cup squad earlier in the week.Mercurial winger Philip Burger opened the scoring for the Cheetahs as early as the third minute when he collected a textbook grubber kick by Bevan Fortuin.Patric Cilliers, who had a brilliant first half, powered over for the Sharks following clever dummy running by the home team, then set off on a bulldozing run, knocking Meyer Bosman over before offloading a wonderfully timed pass to Stefan Terblanche, who dotted down under the poles.Speedy Henno Mentz scored the last try of the first half, sprinting 60 metres following a turnover to give the Sharks a 22-16 lead going into the break.The Cheetahs then took command of proceedings to score 26 unanswered points in the second half.Kambamba Floors scored two tries one in each half muscling over both times from meticulously controlled drives from lineouts.Former Springbok centre Marius Joubert was given a yellow card for a spear-tackle on Sharks captain Jacques Botes, but this did not have a bearing on the final result as the visitors scored a converted try and a drop goal in the ten minutes of the sin bin.Wilhelm de Waal proved how invaluable he is with the boot notching up 22 points through five penalties, two conversions, and a drop goal off his weaker right foot.The Sharks were unlucky not to be awarded a try, which was referred to the television match official, when Brad Barrit appeared to have dived on the ball over the line, but it turned out that Burger had in fact beaten him to dotting down.Replacement scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn scored the bonus-point try with two minutes to go to put the game beyond doubt after a brilliant break from the base of a ruck and spectacularly stepping Terblanche.The Free Staters are now eight points clear at the top of the log and it will take a lot to deny them a home semi-final.* The Golden Lions picked up the bonus point as they roared to a 45-24 victory over a gallant Wildeklawer Griquas side in a highly entertaining Absa Currie Cup match at Ellis Park on Saturday.Vodacom Western Province beat Valke 47-18 in their Absa Currie Cup match at Newlands on Saturday.* The Vodacom Blue Bulls delivered an expected victory, 36-12 over the Boland Cavaliers in an Absa Currie Cup Premier Division match at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.SuperrugbyThe Sharks, who have not beaten the Cheetahs since 2003, had suffered a setback when Captain AJ Venter was withdrawn at the eleventh hour before kick-off due to injury and the home side were dominated upfront early on as they seemed to miss star forward Bismarck Du Plessis, who was drafted into the World cup squad earlier in the week.Mercurial winger Philip Burger opened the scoring for the Cheetahs as early as the third minute when he collected a textbook grubber kick by Bevan Fortuin.Patric Cilliers, who had a brilliant first half, powered over for the Sharks following clever dummy running by the home team, then set off on a bulldozing run, knocking Meyer Bosman over before offloading a wonderfully timed pass to Stefan Terblanche, who dotted down under the poles.Speedy Henno Mentz scored the last try of the first half, sprinting 60 metres following a turnover to give the Sharks a 22-16 lead going into the break.The Cheetahs then took command of proceedings to score 26 unanswered points in the second half.Kambamba Floors scored two tries one in each half muscling over both times from meticulously controlled drives from lineouts.Former Springbok centre Marius Joubert was given a yellow card for a spear-tackle on Sharks captain Jacques Botes, but this did not have a bearing on the final result as the visitors scored a converted try and a drop goal in the ten minutes of the sin bin.Wilhelm de Waal proved how invaluable he is with the boot notching up 22 points through five penalties, two conversions, and a drop goal off his weaker right foot.The Sharks were unlucky not to be awarded a try, which was referred to the television match official, when Brad Barrit appeared to have dived on the ball over the line, but it turned out that Burger had in fact beaten him to dotting down.Replacement scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn scored the bonus-point try with two minutes to go to put the game beyond doubt after a brilliant break from the base of a ruck and spectacularly stepping Terblanche.The Free Staters are now eight points clear at the top of the log and it will take a lot to deny them a home semi-final.* The Golden Lions picked up the bonus point as they roared to a 45-24 victory over a gallant Wildeklawer Griquas side in a highly entertaining Absa Currie Cup match at Ellis Park on Saturday.Vodacom Western Province beat Valke 47-18 in their Absa Currie Cup match at Newlands on Saturday.* The Vodacom Blue Bulls delivered an expected victory, 36-12 over the Boland Cavaliers in an Absa Currie Cup Premier Division match at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.Superrugby