The Cheetahs went top of the Currie Cup table after demolishing a young Lions team in a bonus-point victory that was temporarily disrupted by lightning in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

With the 66-14 win, the Cheetahs overhauled the Sharks into first place thanks to a superior points difference, with both teams currently unbeaten and on 18 points.

It was a very one-sided affair in which the Lions had no real answer to the Cheetahs’ onslaught. Even a lightning storm in the first half, which threatened to have the game abandoned, did little to affect the dominance enjoyed by the home side.

There will be some concern from the Cheetahs over the fitness of flyhalf Siya Masuku, who had to be substituted in the first half after taking a knock when he was tackled late.

The Cheetahs scored three tries in the first 19 minutes but the game was then halted and players called off the field due to weather concerns. A nervous wait eventually ended and the game resumed just two minutes before the deadline at which time the game would have been called off.

However, the Cheetahs continued unperturbed as they almost immediately scored the bonus-point try, and the hosts were then awarded a penalty try after the Lions collapsed a maul on their line and flank Sibusiso Sangweni was yellow-carded.

Ironically, the Lions put together their best attack when Sangweni was off, as No 8 Jarod Cairns ran an excellent line to break the line and sprinted clear for their first try.

The Cheetahs’ sixth try came against the run of play when, after winning a counter-ruck just outside their own 22, some wonderful interchanging between Ruan Pienaar and hooker Wilmar Arnoldi put flank Gideon van der Merwe over, giving them a 38-7 half-time lead.

The Lions were quickest out of the blocks in the second half and hooker PJ Botha finished after a long period of phases near the tryline. However, the rout continued as the Cheetahs added a further four tries to take them beyond 60 points and seal a comprehensive win.