Cape Town - The Free State Cheetahs booked their spot in the semi-finals of this year's Absa Currie Cup after their final group stage match against the Sharks ended in a thrilling draw in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The final score read 34-all after the home side led 17-13 at half-time.
In next weekend's semi-finals the Cheetahs will travel to Johannesburg to face the table-topping Golden Lions while the Blue Bulls will host Western Province in the other semi-final.
Scorers:
Free State Cheetahs
Tries: Rayno Benjamin (2), Boom Prinsloo, Gerhard Olivier
Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (2), Neil Marais (2)
Penalties: Ebersohn (2)
Sharks
Tries: Etienne Oosthuizen, Cobus Reinach, Paul Jordaan, Garth April
Conversions: Pietersen
Penalties: Pietersen (4)
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit,1 BG Uys
Substitutes: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Teunis Nieuwoudt, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Ruan van Rensburg, 22 Niel Marais, 23 AJ Coertzen
Sharks
15. Garth April, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. S'bura Sithole, 10. Joe Pietersen, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Etienne Oosthuizen, 6. Francois Kleinhans, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. David McDuling, 3. Gerhard Engelbrecht, 2. Franco Marais, 1. Thomas du Toit
Substitutes: 16. Monde Hadebe, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. Christiaan de Bruin, 19. Jean Deysel, 20. Michael Claassens, 21. Heimar Williams, 22. Waylon Murray