The Cheetahs made it nine wins from nine when they thumped the Sharks 44-15 in a Currie Cup encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Cheetahs ran in six tries to two as they outgunned their opponents from Durban in all departments.
AS IT HAPPENED | Cheetahs v Sharks
A little bit of ?? ?????????????????? ?? as the Toyota Cheetahs make it nine wins from nine #CarlingCurrieCup matches with a 44-15 win over the Cell C Sharks ?? pic.twitter.com/yk5MkpDfG1
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) May 14, 2022
The hosts secured their try-scoring bonus point on the stroke of half-time, and while they took their foot off the peddle somewhat in the second stanza, the result was never really in doubt.
The Cheetahs were their usual enterprising selves as they ran the Sharks ragged on several occasions. They also bossed the set pieces and dominated the Sharks physically.
The home side's halfbacks, Ruan Pienaar and Siya Masuku, controlled proceedings well after receiving ample go-forward possession from their pack. Winger Rosko Specman was also omnipresent throughout and caused the Sharks all sorts of problems.
The Cheetahs' bonus-point win sees them move up to top spot in the Currie Cup standings on 41 points, although the Bulls (37 points) can reclaim top spot if they claim a bonus-point win over the Lions in Pretoria later on Saturday. The Cheetahs do, however, have a game in hand on the Bulls.
The Sharks, meanwhile, suffered their fourth loss of the season and remain third on 24 points.
Scorers:
Cheetahs 44 (24)
Tries: Victor Sekekete, Marnus van der Merwe, Cohen Jasper, Andisa Ntsila, Mihlali Mosi, Louis van der Westhuizen
Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3), Siya Masuku
Penalties: Pienaar, Masuku
Sharks 15 (10)
Tries: Cameron Wright, Dan Jooste
Conversions: Boeta Chamberlain
Penalty: Chamberlain
Teams:
Cheetahs
15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Substitutes: 16 Cameron Dawson, 17 Louis van der Westhuizen, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Chris Smit
Sharks
15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Jeremy Ward (captain), 12 Murray Koster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Emile van Heerden, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona
Substitutes: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Blaine Golden, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Tito Bonilla, 23 Ethan Fisher