Sharks' Currie Cup surge continues with 5th straight win as Cheetahs downed in Durban

The Sharks have moved into second position on the Currie Cup log and strengthed the shot at the playoffs after a 35-23 win over the top-of-the-table Cheetahs in a wet Durban on Friday evening.

The Durban-based side is level on points with the Cheetah, who have a better points difference which keeps them in top spot despite the defeat.

After the Cheetahs made much of the early running, it was the home side who opened the scoring in the 7th minute thanks to the accurate boot of veteran pivot Lionel Cronje, who banged over a 50m penalty for a 3-0 lead.

That lead became 10-0 in the 15th minute when winger Aphele Fassi cruised over the line and dotted down under the posts for a converted score.

Things got worse for the Cheetahs a few minutes later when flanker Siba Qoma was sent to the bin for direct head-to-head contact in a tackle.

Ruan Pienaar's accurate boot saw the Cheetahs open their account in the 23rd minute as he slotted a penalty to cut the Sharks' lead to 10-3 before Sharks centre Alwayno Visagie extended the home sides lead to 15-3 with an unconverted try a few minutes later.

With six minutes to go before half-time, Cronje added another penalty as the Sharks were in cruise control with an 18-3 advantage.

The Cheetahs hit back just before half-time after a period of attack on the Sharks' line saw Qoma crash over.

Pienaar added the extras to cut the Sharks' lead to eight points at 18-10.

Ill discipline from the Cheetahs, however, saw the Sharks land another penalty through Cronje well after the half-time hooter to take a 21-10 lead into the break.

Much like the start of the first half, the Cheetahs were on the front foot at the beginning of the second stanza and were awarded a penalty, which Pienaar knocked over from right in