Back to drawing board for Cheetahs
It is back to the drawing board for the Free State Cheetahs after losing two games in succession, by not capitalising on the first-half leads they have built up.
The Sharks moved to the top of the Currie Cup log after beating the Cheetahs 18-15 in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The Cheetahs, as they did the week before against Western Province, held a commanding lead before allowing the opposition to come back – with the Cheetahs racing into a 15-6 lead in Bloemfontein.
However, the Sharks scored 12 unanswered points and kept the Cheetahs scoreless after the break.
With the victory in the bag, the Durban-based side are on nine log points and the Cheetahs on seven, placing them first and second respectively.
That order will most likely change on Saturday with two more matches to be decided.
The Cheetahs host Griquas next weekend and a week of hard work awaits.
"We made to many unforced errors," Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské said of the game.
"Full credit to the Sharks for their defence.
"They shifted all over the park and we struggled. We should have played more direct.
"In the first half we scored two tries by playing more direct. For some reason we played more laterally in the second half and that cost us the game.
"We are glad for the one point we got, because that is going to make the difference in the end.
"If you do lose, it is important that you pick up at least one point."
The Cheetahs beat the Lions 30-29 in Week One, then lost 14-15 to Western Province last week (after the Cheetahs held a 140 lead in the first half) and this past Friday against conceded a nine-point (15-6) lead by not sticking to the game plan.
"In all three games we had a good lead. And two of those three we lost in the last minute," Drotské said.
SAPA
