The visitors raced to a 28-0 lead within the first 20 minutes of the match, and for a brief mounted it appeared that they could be the team to beat this season, albeit, it was both teams first matches of the tournament.

The opening score was a penalty try in the 10th minute, but a mere minute later, Leolin Zas, darted over the first of his two tries.

Five minutes later, Zas, made a turn across the whitewash again for his brace. The Sharks fullback, Rhyno Smith, who actually played for the Toyota Cheetahs in the Guinness Pro14 earlier in the season earned the visitors the bonus point.

In the 26th minute of the match Jamba Ulengo, who returned from a trial at the Southern Kings earlier in the week, got the hosts on the board with a try. Ernst Stapelberg made no mistake in adding the extra two.

The impressive and powerful centre, Marlou van Niekerk, struck again for the Free State with 7 minutes remaining in the first half to make it a 14-point game at half time.

The second half belonged entirely to the Free State, and it was the replacement hooker, Janus Venter, who got the board ticking with a try in the 45th minute.

Ten minutes later it was a two-point game when the USA International, Ruben de Haas, darted over, but Stapelberg missed the fairly easy conversion.

Ulengo completed his brace in the 66th minute to hand the Free State the lead for the first time in the game.

The son of the Free State legend, Chris Badenhorst, Dian dotted down with just two minutes remaining to seal the deal for the hosts.

The Free State will travel to the Cape next week to tackle the Boland Cavaliers at the Boland Stadium in Wellington.

Scorers:

Toyota Free State XV:  Tries – Jamba Ulengo 2, Marlou van Niekerk, Janus Venter, Ruben de Haas, Dian Badenhorst Conv. – Ernst Stapelberg 4, Lubabalo Dobela 1

Sharks XV: Tries – Penalty Try, Leolin Zas 2, Rhyno Smith Conv. – Smith 2 Drop-goal – Smith 1

@MorganPiek OFM Sport