Cheetahs clock ninth Currie Cup win on the trot

Cheetahs (24) 44 Lions (10) 15

Cheetahs — Tries: Victor Sekekete, Marnus van der Merwe, Cohen Jasper, Andisa Nstila, Mihlali Mosi, Louis van der Westhuizen; Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3), Siya Masuku; Penalties: Pienaar, Masuku

Sharks — Tries: Cameron Wright, Dan Jooste; Conversion: Boeta Chamberlain; Penalty: Chamberlain.

● The Cheetahs remain unbeaten as they powered to their ninth Currie Cup win of the season with a 44-15 victory over the Sharks in Bloemfontein yesterday.

They started the game in hot pursuit of the Bulls who had played a game more and got the job done against Etienne Fynn’s Sharks team who had to operate under pressure for most of the match.

The Sharks, who lost to the Pumas last weekend, came into the clash having made eight changes and while they tried to play with enterprise, they did not see enough of the ball to make an impact.

Often, when they had possession, it was under duress inside their own territory.

With the hosts enjoying the lion’s share of possession, they could apply pressure and, while the Sharks were game, their defence relented. Cheetahs scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar mostly took smart decisions, while flyhalf Siya Masuku provided some impetus from the first receiver. It helped set up a 24-10 lead for the Cheetahs at the break, and they could have been further ahead had the Sharks not at times stood their ground.

The Cheetahs dotted down first, thanks largely to a man who was surprisingly sprightly for someone who had his nuptials a week ago. But then you’d expect left-wing Rosko Specman to, by default, have a spring in his step. His impact upon his return to the team was immediate. It was he who breached the Sharks defence and proved hard to put down in setting up the opening try for lock Victor Sekekete.

Hooker Marnus van der Merwe added the Cheetahs’ second but the Sharks hit back through a converted Cameron Wright try after captain Jeremy Ward made gains near the touchline. That was the only highlight for the visitors in a half spent mostly on the back foot.

It was the hosts, however, who made the most significant gains upfront. Flank Andisa Ntsila and the rest of the forwards’ shoulderto-the-wheel approach helped get the hosts across the advantage line but they also had the better of the primary phases.

The Cheetahs, with Schalk Ferreira at the cutting edge, put the squeeze on the Sharks’ scrum.

A brilliant team effort was rounded off by No 8 Mihlali Mosi to stretch the Cheetahs’ lead after the break but then they lost a man to the bin, which gave the Sharks the licence to score a maul try.

Though the Cheetahs did not reach the same heights in the second half, they were mostly untroubled.