The ability to intercept passes and create try scoring chances from turnovers enabled the Free State Cheetahs to take four valuable points from their exciting top-of-the-table Absa Currie Cup rugby encounter as they toppled the Sharks 31-19 in Durban on Saturday evening.
The anticipated titanic struggle up front between two street-wise packs was not short of expectation and, that apart, the free-running style of the respective back divisions had the crowd of 23 000 in a frenzy of emotion.
In a keenly contested first half, which the Sharks just about dominated, a late try after the hooter had been sounded let the Cheetahs back into the contest at 16-13. It was a costly seven pointer at that stage. Especially as the Free Staters were a man shy with flyhalf Willem de Waal sin-binned for stomping.
In the second half the Cheetahs ,with a fervent display of Currie Cup-winning rugby in defence of their title, got two splendid breakaway tries to again disappoint home Sharks fans.
Indeed, Sharks captain AJ Venter, celebrating is 33rd birthday, could not muster his troops as he did against the Bulls last weekend and as the game wore on their rugby became ragged in execution.
They just could not regain their first-half composure against a Free State side that tackled like demons and met fire with fire in midfield to disrupt and destroy the Sharks in the end by two goals, a try and four penalty goals to a goal and four penalties.
As it was, Willem de Waal won the battle of the flyhalves with 18 of his side’s points against 14 by his Sharks opposite number Ryan Pienaar from four penalties and a conversion. De Waal scored a try and kicked four penalties and a conversion with Gaffie du Toit kicking another conversion whilst he was off the field.
Cheetahs fullback Bevin Fortuin was adjudged man of the match for his heroic last line off defence that so often thwarted the Sharks as they hunted for vital points. — Sapa