The Cheetahs moved level with the Pumas at the top of the Currie Cup table after thrashing a 14-man Lions team 52-15 in their clash at Ellis Park on Sunday afternoon.
In a busy weekend of movements on the table the Cheetahs capitalised on the Sharks upset win over the Pumas to move level on 20 points, with the competition defending champs just holding onto top spot due to a superior point’s difference.
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In the match the Lions were well in the contest until a deserved red card shown to lock Raynard Roets, who charged into a ruck with a tucked shoulder and connected with the head of Cheetahs flank Oupa Mohoje, changed the game with two minutes left in the first half.
It was the hosts who got off to a flyer as they scored within the first two minutes, lock Darrien-Lane Lansberg forcing his way over from close range, but the Cheetahs hit straight back as fullback Tapiwa Mafura stepped his way over to make it 7-all after seven minutes.
Lions flyhalf Vaughen Isaacs popped over a penalty, followed by the Cheetahs in for their second as eighthman Jeandre Rudolph hit a gap to run away and score, with scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar’s conversion putting them 14-10 up after 24 minutes.
Both teams were then guilty of ill-disciplined play as Pienaar and Lions flyhalf Jurich Claasens received yellow cards within six minutes of each other, followed by Roets red.
The Cheetahs were able to earn some space for Mafura to get over for his second on the halftime hooter to take a 19-10 lead into the break.
Numerical advantage
The visitors ruthlessly used their numerical advantage in the early stages of the second half as they rumbled a maul over for Marko Janse van Rensburg to dot down, and Rudolph bashed over for his second as they took a 33-10 lead after 52 minutes.
Eight minutes later the Cheetahs unstoppable rolling maul powered its way over again with flank Daniel Maartens dotting down for the seven pointer.
A yellow card to Cheetahs wing Daniel Kasende in the 65th minute evened the numbers and the Lions took advantage three minutes later by rumbling their own maul over for replacement hooker Michael van Vuuren to score, with the score 40-15.
The Cheetahs however would not be denied and rumbled another maul try over for replacement hooker Louis van der Westhuizen, before Mafura added the cherry with his hattrick try late on as the visitors claimed a thumping win in the end.
In other results over the weekend the Sharks stunned the Pumas 19-12, Western Province outscored the Griffons 47-28 and the Bulls picked up their first win with a 40-3 thumping of the Griquas.
There were thus a few movements on the log as Western Province and the Sharks moved above the Lions into third and fourth place, while the Bulls moved off the foot of the table ahead of the Griffons.
