Central Cheetahs have shocked the careless Coastal Sharks 35-29 to win the first South African derby of the Super 15 season and collect a bonus point at Kings Park.
Sharks came close to snatching victory in Durban as time ticked toward the 80-minute mark with Marcel Coetzee believing he had scored a try, but big-screen replays showed he lost the ball forward.
The home team -- considered the strongest South African contenders this year -- had another chance only to be dispossessed within sight of the tryline.
Cheetahs then brought play into Sharks' half and that is where a game played in muggy conditions ended as a loose ball was snapped up and booted into touch by huge prop Coenie Oosthuizen.
Flanker Jean Cook, centre Francois Venter and replacement forwards Boom Prinsloo and Carl Wegner scored a try each for the Bloemfontein-based team, who led 20-16 at half-time.
New fly-half Joe Pietersen kicked three penalties and two conversions and his replacement, Willie du Plessis, one conversion.
Sharks fly-half Patrick Lambie scored a try and slotted two conversions and five penalties for a 24-point total and left-wing Lwazi Mvovo was the other try scorer.
Considered likely whipping boys after losing skipper Adriaan Strauss and fellow forwards Trevor Nyakane and Lappies Labuschagne to Northern Bulls, the Cheetahs were worthy winners.
Pietersen, operating as playmaker for the first time since 2009 when a Western Stormer, displayed calm authority and missed only one shot at goal in a 13-point contribution.
Loosehead prop Danie Mienie was not overawed at scrumming against Springbok Jannie du Plessis, forcing the veteran to concede several penalties.
And loose forward Prinsloo proved an inspired substitution, coming off the bench and almost immediately scoring the push-over try that gave Cheetahs breathing space.
Victory was achieved, despite the loss only 10 minutes into the first half of lock Lood de Jager with a suspected broken elbow -- a major blow to a side lacking strength in depth.
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