JOHANNESBURG – Sharks lost for the first time this season in the South African Currie Cup, but a bonus point from a 34-27 defeat at Western Province kept them first on Sunday.
Free State Cheetahs trail by just one point after going on a nine-try romp to crush visiting Eastern Province Kings 57-25 in Bloemfontein.
Defending champions Golden Lions, missing many key players on national team duty in Australasia, crashed 31-17 at neighbours Blue Bulls to lie fifth halfway through the league phase.
Minnows Griquas are the surprise occupants of fourth position on 14 points behind the Sharks (20), Cheetahs (19) and Bulls (15) after a come-from-behind 47-24 midweek win over Kings.
In the other weekend game, Boland Cavaliers edged struggling Pumas 25-22 in Wellington near Cape Town.
The Province-Sharks clash at Newlands in Cape Town was among the most entertaining this season in the 127-year-old Currie Cup – the oldest provincial rugby competition in the world.
Province established an early 11-point lead only for fly-half Curwin Bosch to slot five penalties and convert a try by flanker Jean-Luc du Preez to give Sharks a 20-17 half-time advantage.
Province regained the lead through a try by centre EW Viljoen four minutes into the second half and Sharks were temporarily reduced to 14 men soon after when Du Preez was yellow-carded.
The Cape outfit failed to score while numerically advantaged, but stretched a two-point lead to 14 through tries from flanker Kobus van Dyk and Viljoen.
Sharks had to halve that deficit to secure a losing bonus point and they achieved the goal when substitute back Rhyno Smith crossed the try-line and Bosch converted.
After conceding the first try, Cheetahs hit back to lead 23-10 at the break and scored a further six tries during the second half against opponents playing a third match within eight days.
Six of the winners’ tries came from forwards with flanker Paul Schoeman and prop Charles Marais scoring two each and props Tom Botha and Ox Nche one apiece.
Cheetahs’ winning margin could have been even wider had their goal-kickers, fly-half Fred Zeilinga and his replacement Niel Marais, not missed seven of 12 attempts.
An intercept try by winger Travis Ismael and one from lock Marvin Orie after a clever driving-maul manoeuvre highlighted victory for Bulls in a Highveld derby in Pretoria.
Lions won the competition last year when all their stars were shunned by then national coach Heyneke Meyer for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
Having more than half the team in the Springboks squad this season is having a detrimental effect on their Currie Cup campaign as a lack of strength in depth is exposed.
With visits to Cheetahs and Sharks ahead, the Johannesburg outfit could face a struggle just to make the top four and secure a semi-finals place. – Nampa-AFP
