The Cheetahs moved to the top of the Currie Cup table after two rounds with a 43-21 bonus-point victory over the Sharks in Bloemfontein, with Faf de Klerk crossing twice and Prince Nkabinde claiming a hat-trick.
Nkabinde opened the scoring in the second minute after De Klerk's grubber created the opportunity, and the Cheetahs led 19-14 at half-time after a first half in which the Sharks were held up twice and squandered several chances. Jaco van der Walt converted four of the Cheetahs' seven tries.
The match turned fractious after the break. Lock Curtley Thomas was yellow-carded in the 47th minute for dangerous head contact, and the Sharks immediately capitalised through Marnus Potgieter to nudge ahead 21-19. The 14-man Cheetahs responded from a lineout move to send Nkabinde over in the corner for his second, and he completed his hat-trick from a rolling maul in the 65th minute.
The Sharks were reduced to 14 themselves in the 75th minute when replacement Bryce Calvert was carded for slapping the ball from De Klerk's hands — a moment that effectively ended the contest. Daniel Maartens crossed shortly after before De Klerk intercepted to score in the 78th minute and close out a comfortable victory.
The Cheetahs' scrum was dominant throughout, a concern Frans Steyn's side will want addressed before next weekend. Centre Munier Hartzenberg left the field with an apparent knee injury in the 25th minute and his availability will be monitored.