Out-of-contention Coastal Sharks created a thrilling chase for Super 14 semi-finals places by shocking fellow South Africans Western Stormers 20-14 at windy Absa Stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Saturday.
The result confirmed defending champions the Northern Bulls will top the table, securing the Pretoria franchise a home semi-final and, if successful, final in the southern hemisphere championship.
Who fills the other three places in the knockout phase is going down to the wire with the Stormers, New South Wales Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, Wellington Hurricanes, Canterbury Crusaders and Queensland Reds in contention.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Chasing a third title in four seasons, the Bulls are way ahead on the table with 47 points followed by the Stormers (39), Waratahs (38), Brumbies and Hurricanes (37 each), seven-time champions the Crusaders (36) and virtual no-hopers the Reds (34).
Adding to the final-round drama next Friday and Saturday will be three games involving top-six head-to-heads with the Stormers hosting the Bulls, the Crusaders home to the Brumbies and the Hurricanes away to the Waratahs. Reds host the lowly Otago Highlanders.
CHEETAHS 29, WESTERN FORCE 14
Right wing Bjorn Basson scored two tries as Central Cheetahs gained a convincing 29-14 win over Western Force in a Super 14 on Saturday.
Their fourth win of the season and second in a row enabled the Bloemfontein-based franchise to jump two places on the log to 11th, with Force dropping to 12th.
Cheetahs set up their victory with a dominant performance in the first half in which they scored four tries to secure a bonus point and they led 26-7 at halftime.
AUCKLAND BLUES 56, LIONS 14
The Auckland Blues beat the Lions 56-14 and sent the Johannesburg-based team to a record 12th successive Super 14 defeat on Saturday.
Still winless this season, the Lions surpassed the previous worst run in a Super rugby season when the Bulls lost 11 straight games in 2002 when it was the Super 12.
The Lions have lost 13 straight going back to last season, and are one defeat away from becoming the first team to lose every game in a Super 14 season. They face the Cheetahs in a South African derby next weekend.
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