Cheetahs run riot over 13-man Lions

It was the hosts that enjoyed a fast start, with Zimbabwean Darrien Landsberg crashed over in the opening minute. But Cheetahs responded with a powerful maul that went over 20m before they took it through the hands for fullback Tapiwa Mafura to canter in.

The visitors struck again midway through the first half, taking their lead out to 14-10 before a flurry of cards changed the complexion of the game.

First, Ruan Pienaar got a yellow card after a professional foul, then fellow scrumhalf Jurich Claasens also earned a yellow for illegally sealing off the ball. Just minutes later, the Lions were reduced to 13 men when Raynard Roets was red-carded for an ugly incident.

In their absence, the Cheetahs ran in four unanswered tries - including a second for Mafura - to take the game away from the hosts.

Lions hooker Michael van Vuuren added some respect to the scoreboard, but a rampant Cheetahs run in two more tries in the dying embers of the game, with that man Mafura secured his hattrick in the 77th minute.