The Cheetahs produced their best display of the season, outclassing the Sharks in a superb performance of running rugby that would have left an indelible impression on Currie Cup neutrals.

Cheetahs (23) 53Sharks (18) 32

The Cheetahs remain in fourth place but now trail the Sharks (who picked up a bonus point) by only two points, with three rounds left to play.

The catalyst initially came in the form of precociously talented flyhalf Johan Goosen, who scored 29 points before limping off with cramp, and was followed by barnstorming performances from the likes of eighthman Ashley Johnson and Coenie Oosthuizen.

Three world-class moments defined the performance of Goosen, 19, and his team.

The Cheetahs started strongly with Goosen landing three penalties, but the first real glimpse of his rare talent was still to come.

The Sharks fought back to trail the Cheetahs by a point before Goosen caught the ball on his 22, burst through a seemingly non-existent gap, raced upfield, then had the nous to feed Robert Ebersohn before looping around the centre, scooping the ball up and scoring in the corner. He landed the conversion with disdain.

The Sharks fought back tenaciously with the first of two tries to winger Lwazi Mvovo, and the match looked likely to slip from the home team's grasp.

Goosen, in only his third outing at this level, then burst through a half-gap and produced an off-load Sonny Bill Williams would envy. Flanker Lappies Labuschagne found himself in more space than Pluto and sauntered over untouched.

Leading 23-18 at the break the Cheetahs sensational prodigy pulled off a move so audacious, so daring, so magical that even JRR Tolkien - who was born about 3km from the Free State Stadium - would have had trouble weaving it into his fable. He fielded an errant touch-finder on the halfway line and, up against the side, landed a soaring 55m drop goal.

The Cheetahs players sensed the occasion and started playing with such elan that the Sharks were battered. Johnsonscored next and was monumental going forward, as was Oosthuizen.

There were a few nervy moments, especially when Mvovo raced clear and ran 50m to score his second try, but that was as close as the Sharks got.

Labuschagne secured the bonus point with his second try, while replacement scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn helped his team reach 50 with a well-worked team try.

The battle for the semis is heating up with the Cheetahs, Griquas and the Blue Bulls locked in an intense scrap.

The Cheetahs now face the most perilous of run-ins imaginable with away trips to Western Province and the Lions before a derby against Griquas at home to finish their campaign.

But, based on this performance, they could go all the way.

SCORERS

Cheetahs 53 - Tries: Johan Goosen, Lappies Labuschagne (2), Ashley Johnson, Tewis de Bruyn Conversions: Johan Goosen (3), Sias Ebersohn (2) Penalties: Goosen (5) Drop goal: Goosen

Sharks 32 - Tries: Stefan Terblanche, Lwazi Mvovo (2), Jaques Botes Conversions: Frederic Michalak (3) Penalties: Michalak (2)