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Durban - Flyhalf Naas Olivier booted 14 points as the Cheetahs claimed their first win in this season's Super 14 with a 25-20 victory over the Sharks in an all-South African tussle on Friday.
Fullback and man-of-the-match Riaan Viljoen added a 70-metre solo try and two long-range penalties to help the visitors to their first away win in the competition in 11 attempts dating back to May 2007.
For the Sharks, runners-up in 1996, 2001 and 2007, it was their second straight home defeat, following their 19-18 reverse at the hands of the New Zealand Chiefs.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a long-range penalty by scrumhalf Rory Kockott, who contributed 15 points in all, but they delivered another lacklustre performance on captain John Smit's 100th appearance.
Olivier, who kicked three penalties, a conversion and a drop goal, levelled with a 19th-minute penalty before Viljoen made it 10-3 when he raced through the defence for a spectacular try.
Kockott, who missed two kicks in the opening half-hour, cut the deficit to one point at halftime with penalties in the 36th and 39th minutes.
The Sharks looked to have shaken off their first-half lethargy when they took the lead four minutes after the restart as Ryan Kankowski dived over in the right corner.
Olivier's second penalty after 48 minutes made it 14-13 before Viljoen gave the Cheetahs a five-point lead with two long-range penalties in the 56th and 58th minutes.
Kockott cut the gap to two points with 13 minutes remaining but Olivier booted a drop goal in the 72nd minute before making it 25-17 with his third penalty.
With the match lost, Kockott recorded his fifth penalty to give the Sharks the consolation of a bonus point for finishing within seven points.
Scorers:
Sharks - Try: Ryan Kankowski. Penalties: Rory Kockott (5).
Vodacom Cheetahs - Try: Riaan Viljoen. Conversion: Naas Olivier. Penalties: Olivier (3), R. Viljoen (2) Drop Goal: Olivier.
Fullback and man-of-the-match Riaan Viljoen added a 70-metre solo try and two long-range penalties to help the visitors to their first away win in the competition in 11 attempts dating back to May 2007.
For the Sharks, runners-up in 1996, 2001 and 2007, it was their second straight home defeat, following their 19-18 reverse at the hands of the New Zealand Chiefs.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a long-range penalty by scrumhalf Rory Kockott, who contributed 15 points in all, but they delivered another lacklustre performance on captain John Smit's 100th appearance.
Olivier, who kicked three penalties, a conversion and a drop goal, levelled with a 19th-minute penalty before Viljoen made it 10-3 when he raced through the defence for a spectacular try.
Kockott, who missed two kicks in the opening half-hour, cut the deficit to one point at halftime with penalties in the 36th and 39th minutes.
The Sharks looked to have shaken off their first-half lethargy when they took the lead four minutes after the restart as Ryan Kankowski dived over in the right corner.
Olivier's second penalty after 48 minutes made it 14-13 before Viljoen gave the Cheetahs a five-point lead with two long-range penalties in the 56th and 58th minutes.
Kockott cut the gap to two points with 13 minutes remaining but Olivier booted a drop goal in the 72nd minute before making it 25-17 with his third penalty.
With the match lost, Kockott recorded his fifth penalty to give the Sharks the consolation of a bonus point for finishing within seven points.
Scorers:
Sharks - Try: Ryan Kankowski. Penalties: Rory Kockott (5).
Vodacom Cheetahs - Try: Riaan Viljoen. Conversion: Naas Olivier. Penalties: Olivier (3), R. Viljoen (2) Drop Goal: Olivier.
