Currie Cup: Victories for the Sharks and top-of-the-table Pumas

The visitors had raced to a 17-0 half-time lead thanks to two tries, two conversions and a penalty.

Flank Tinotenda Mavesere opened the scoring for the Sharks in the ninth minute after a brilliant break by captain James Venter.

Flyhalf Lionel Cronje added the conversion and then struck a penalty on the half hour mark to extend the lead to 10 points.

Hooker Fez Mbatha then went over for a five-pointer on the stroke of halftime with Cronje again adding the extras from the kicking tee.

The home side then stormed back into the contest after the interval as tries by flankers Sibabalo Qoma and Gideon van der Merwe and a solitary conversion from Ruan Pienaar brought the Cheetahs within five points.

The Sharks though halted the charge and went in for a five-pointer of their own when replacement forward Marco de Witt scored and Cronje put the conversion over.

The contest was as good as done but the Cheetahs got a consolation try through hooker Louis van der Westhuizen.

Pumas (25) - (24) Western Province

Replacement flyhalf Brandon Thomson slotted a penalty late in the game to help the Pumas beat Western Province 25-24 in their Currie Cup clash at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday.

The defending champions were leading 19-17 at halftime but fell behind after the interval before winning at the death to consolidate top spot on the table.

Province took the lead early in the contest when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored and converted his own try.

The Pumas responded in fine style though as Corne Fourie scored next to the posts and Tinus de Beer added the extras from the kicking tee.

The visitors though had the lead when Jarrod Taylor collected a charge down kick and scored.

The hosts then scored two five-pointers in quick succession as Fourie went over again while Cameron Dawson was also on the scoresheet.

Province looked to have won the game in the final 10 minutes when they took a 24-22 lead as Luke Burger scored a try that was converted by Mngomezulu.

The joy for the Cape side was short-lived though as Thomson stepped up as the Pumas snatched a nail-biting victory.