The Sharks moved to the top of the Currie Cup log on Saturday bu beating the Vodacom Freestate Cheetahs 22 -10.

“The Vodacom Blue Bulls, the Xerox Lions and Vodacom Western Province all joined the Sharks in celebrating wins, with the majority of all Absa Currie Cup teams sporting ‘No to Racism’ slogans on their chests this weekend – a simple, yet effective message from the South African Rugby Union, the provinces and their sponsors in a dramatic statement against racism.

The Sharks are now on 42 points after 11 matches; two ahead of the second-placed Vodacom Blue Bulls, followed by the Lions on 36 points and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, who have slipped down to fourth place (still on 32 points).

The match of the weekend saw the Sharks finally beat the Vodacom FS Cheetahs in an Absa Currie Cup match – their first win over the Free Staters since the 2003 season, some 10 matches ago.

The home side led 17-10 at half-time and were full value for their victory, but they were unable to secure a bonus point in the dying minutes of the match, with some desperate Cheetahs defence denying them at the death.

“Not getting the bonus point in the end was disappointing for us,” admitted Sharks skipper Johann Muller, “but credit to the Cheetahs, their defence was good on the night.”

Muller, whose team are looking as odds-on favourites to host a semifinal in Durban next month, added: “We’re quite happy with the win, but, most importantly, we’re on the right track at this stage – even though there’s still a long way to go in this tournament.”

Vodacom FS Cheetahs skipper Juan Smith – Free State’s only try-scorer – was understandably disappointed with the result, but he found some comforts in his team’s performance.

“We just didn’t take our chances, but credit must go to the Sharks,” he said.

“Our defence was a positive for us to take out of the match, but this game proved that the right guys are currently playing for the Boks as they’re making a big difference in the Absa Currie Cup at the moment.”

Nipping at the Cheetahs’ heels are Vodacom WP, who registered a whopping 92-15 win over the Valke in Cape Town on Saturday – a record-breaking day for Springbok lock Andries Bekker, who scored a staggering five tries before replaced with 30 minutes to go in the match.

Bekker – who made his Bok debut earlier this year, and has just rejoined Vodacom WP after being on Tri-Nations duty – equalled a Western Province record in the process. He joins Justin Swart, Breyton Paulse and Egon Seconds as having scored five tries in one match. Not bad. Except, he is a lock forward, the others are all wingers!

WP, with their Springboks back in tow, are suddenly shaping up as the team to beat in the Absa Currie Cup, but their final-round meeting with the Xerox Lions in Cape Town will have plenty riding on it should the Men in Blue and White continue with their current form.

In other action this weekend, the Vodacom Blue Bulls bounced back from their loss to the Sharks last Saturday, beating the Boland Cavaliers 69-19 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.

The Bulls led 38-0 at half-time, scoring 11 tries to three in the end, with winger John Mametsa scoring two tries and Wilhelm Steenkamp keeping the lock forwards in the headlines with two tries of his own – namesake and prop Gurthro Steenkamp having delighted the crowd with a bullocking charge in the build-up.

Saturday’s action, aside from the Sharks match in Durban, saw the Xerox Lions overpower Wildeklawer Griquas 41-20 in Johannesburg, and, of course, WP smashing the Valke at Newlands.

Winger Michael Killian scored a hat-trick for the Lions, with flyhalf Earl Rose – still the leading points-scorer in the competition – adding three conversions and one penalty, and prop Ross Geldenhuys, captain Cobus Grobbelaar and centre Doppies la Grange also touching down for the home team.

La Grange has been in fine try-scoring form for last year’s finalists, scoring his sixth try of the season against the Men from Kimberley. Joining La Grange with six tries thus far is Bjorn Basson, Keegan Daniel, John Mametsa and the man of the moment Andries Bekker, whose five tries against the Valke saw him leapfrog a host of players on the try-scorers’ list.

Sharks flanker Jacques Botes and Griquas’ SA Sevens star, MJ Mentz, are still the top try-scorers with seven tries each.

Mentz will be looking to add to his try-tally this coming Friday when Griquas travel to Cape Town to face a new-look and ultra-confident Vodacom Western Province, who will be eyeing redemption after suffering a 21-20 defeat in Kimberley the last time these two sides met in July”

Source: sarugby.com