Prince Nkabinde's hat-trick and a brace from Faf de Klerk drove the Toyota Free State Cheetahs to a 43-21 Currie Cup win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday, sending the Cheetahs to the top of the standings with two wins from two games.
The match was far tighter than the scoreline suggests, locked at 14-14 at halftime before the Cheetahs pulled clear in the final quarter. De Klerk was named man of the match for his control of the game behind a scrum that was frequently under pressure — a fitting recognition given that he had a hand in almost every significant Cheetahs moment.
Nkabinde opened the scoring in the second minute, controlling De Klerk's grubber in the in-goal area, with Jaco van der Walt converting from the touchline. The Sharks levelled through centre Janco Purchase after 10 minutes, Tim Swiel adding the extras. De Klerk then crossed himself from recycled ball near the Sharks' posts to restore the lead, only for tighthead Simphiwe Ngobese to dot down — finishing a move that involved a Ross Braude break and a touchline pass from wing Christie Grobbelaar — to bring it back to 14-14, where it stayed until the break.
De Klerk's quick tap penalty early in the second half sent blindside flank Juan Venter over on the right, but the Cheetahs immediately complicated their own task when lock Curtly Thomas was yellow-carded for an illegal tackle. The Sharks capitalised on the numerical advantage, with centre Marnus Potgieter scoring to put the visitors ahead for the first time. Swiel converted to make it 21-19.
Nkabinde's second try, in the 52nd minute, came when the Sharks' defensive line spread too thin, and from that point the home side did not surrender the lead again. Nkabinde completed his hat-trick as the Sharks' forward dominance faded, with De Klerk's second try and Van der Walt's boot stretching the final margin to 22 points.