Johannesburg - Title holders, the Sharks, stayed in the running for a home semi-final with a convincing 41-14 win over the log bottom Leopards in a Currie Cup clash in Phokeng, outside Rustenburg, on Saturday night.
The visitors went uncontested in the first half, strolling to a 15-0 lead.
Sharks centre Adrian Jacobs went over for their first try in the 13th minute, and flyhalf Frederic Michalak added the conversion, on top of an early penalty kick, to give the visitors the advantage.
Ten minutes later, flanker Jacques Botes dotted down, and while Michalak sent the conversion wide, the Sharks were in control.
The Leopards, assured of relegation with one match left in the top-flight, fought back in the second half.
Scrumhalf Johann Laker got the hosts on the scoreboard shortly after the break, with flyhalf Wesley Dunlop converting to narrow the gap.
Sharks winger Lwazi Mvovo struck back, however, carrying two Leopards players with him as he stormed over on the left.
Showing heart with nothing to lose, and little to gain, Leopards winger Danie Dames scored their second try two minutes later, and Dunlop converted to close the gap within six points.
The visitors, however, held the home side at bay with scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann scoring the bonus-point try midway through the second half, and the Sharks ran away with it in the dying stages.
Skipper Keegan Daniel blocked a kick from Leopards flanker Luvuyiso Lusaseni, sprinting clear to dot down, and winger Sibusiso Sithole added one more try - the sixth for the Sharks - in injury time.
Daniel said they were not entirely satsfied with their performance, but the Sharks were pleased to have taken five points from the match.
"We got the job done, but I don't think we were very clinical, especially in the lineouts," Daniel said.
"Coming to Rustenburg is never easy, though, so we're happy with the win."
Scorers:
Leopards:
Tries: Johann Laker, Danie Dames
Conversions: Wesley Dunlop (2)
Sharks:
Tries: Adi Jacobs, Jacques Botes, Lwazi Mvovo, Conrad Hoffmann, Keegan Daniel and Sibusiso Sithole.
Conversions: Frederic Michalak (4)
Penalty: Michalak
Teams:
Leopards:
15 Hofmann Maritz, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Johann Laker, 8 Robert Kruger, 7 MB Lusaseni, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Brad Mockford, 3 Snoepie Coetzee, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Jean-Jacques Rossouw.
Substitutes: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alfred Wauts, 18 Christo van Niekerk, 19 Spanner Pretorius/Siya Mdaka, 20 Liam Slatem, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Jovan Bowles.
Sharks:
15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jan Andre Marais, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Stefan Terblanche.
The visitors went uncontested in the first half, strolling to a 15-0 lead.
Sharks centre Adrian Jacobs went over for their first try in the 13th minute, and flyhalf Frederic Michalak added the conversion, on top of an early penalty kick, to give the visitors the advantage.
Ten minutes later, flanker Jacques Botes dotted down, and while Michalak sent the conversion wide, the Sharks were in control.
The Leopards, assured of relegation with one match left in the top-flight, fought back in the second half.
Scrumhalf Johann Laker got the hosts on the scoreboard shortly after the break, with flyhalf Wesley Dunlop converting to narrow the gap.
Sharks winger Lwazi Mvovo struck back, however, carrying two Leopards players with him as he stormed over on the left.
Showing heart with nothing to lose, and little to gain, Leopards winger Danie Dames scored their second try two minutes later, and Dunlop converted to close the gap within six points.
The visitors, however, held the home side at bay with scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann scoring the bonus-point try midway through the second half, and the Sharks ran away with it in the dying stages.
Skipper Keegan Daniel blocked a kick from Leopards flanker Luvuyiso Lusaseni, sprinting clear to dot down, and winger Sibusiso Sithole added one more try - the sixth for the Sharks - in injury time.
Daniel said they were not entirely satsfied with their performance, but the Sharks were pleased to have taken five points from the match.
"We got the job done, but I don't think we were very clinical, especially in the lineouts," Daniel said.
"Coming to Rustenburg is never easy, though, so we're happy with the win."
Scorers:
Leopards:
Tries: Johann Laker, Danie Dames
Conversions: Wesley Dunlop (2)
Sharks:
Tries: Adi Jacobs, Jacques Botes, Lwazi Mvovo, Conrad Hoffmann, Keegan Daniel and Sibusiso Sithole.
Conversions: Frederic Michalak (4)
Penalty: Michalak
Teams:
Leopards:
15 Hofmann Maritz, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Johann Laker, 8 Robert Kruger, 7 MB Lusaseni, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Brad Mockford, 3 Snoepie Coetzee, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Jean-Jacques Rossouw.
Substitutes: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alfred Wauts, 18 Christo van Niekerk, 19 Spanner Pretorius/Siya Mdaka, 20 Liam Slatem, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Jovan Bowles.
Sharks:
15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jan Andre Marais, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Stefan Terblanche.