Sharks hammer Lions

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Durban - The Sharks secured a home Currie Cup semi-final with an emphatic 53-9 win over the table-topping Lions in Durban on Saturday.

The coastal side ran in seven unanswered tries to ensure they host the Cheetahs in next week's first semi-final at the same venue.

Earlier on Saturday the Cheetahs beat Griquas 49-39 to give them a glimmer of hope of hosting one of the playoffs but their win proved to be in vain as the Sharks registered a bonus-point win. Despite scoring 14 tries against the Leopards, it was still not enough for the Blue Bulls to advance to this year's Currie Cup semi-finals.

Their fate was in the hands of Western Province, who had to grind their way to a bonus-point victory over the Pumas in Cape Town on Saturday to secure a spot in the top-four.