The match was an absolute try fest, with a total of 106 points scored between the two sides and 15 tries scored, 12 to the victors including a penalty try in the second half, and three to the Bulldogs.

Cell C Sharks XV left wing, Charlie Mayeza, also scored an impressive 12 minute hat-trick, going over for his first try in the 30th minute and rounding it off just after halftime in the 42nd minute.

It was an action packed start to the match as the home side stormed into a 28-3 lead, while securing the four try bonus point after just 15 minutes.

The home team's hooker Cullen Collopy, Boeta Chamberlain (fullback), Zee Mkhabela (scrumhalf) and Khutha Mchunu (prop) all went over for five pointers, with Inny Radebe (flyhalf) converting them all, while the four scores were cut down the middle by a penalty goal to Bulldogs flyhalf Lwando Mapuko.

A further three tries to Sicelo Tole (right wing), Jeremy Ward (outside centre) and Mayeza's first, with Radebe converting two of them, gave the Durbanites a massive 47-3 lead just after the half hour mark.

Mayeza's second in the 35th minute then saw them cross the 50 point mark, while Radebe's conversion put them 54-3 up, but it was the visitors who closed out the half with a try after the hooter to Siphosenkosi Nofemele (right wing), converted by Aphiwe Stemele (replacement flyhalf) to make it 54-10 at the break.

It was then an improved second half for the Bulldogs, but they were still outscored 28-14 with the hosts starting the half as they did the first with a try in the first two minutes as Mayeza sealed his hat trick and Radebe added the extras for a 61-10 lead.

The Bulldogs then enjoyed their best spell of the game, upping the intensity to go over twice through Stemele in the 50th and Sonwabiso Mqalo (fullback) in the 58th, with Stemele's two conversions making it 61-24.

The Bulldogs continued to defend well and held out until the 74th minute when a penalty try sparked life back into the Cell C Sharks XV who had gone a bit off the ball allowing them to finish strong as Chamberlain scored his second in the 65th and Murray Koster (replacement back) dotted down after the hooter, with Chamberlain's conversions sealing a huge 82-24 win.

The win sees the Cell C Sharks XV solidify themselves in the top four in the South Section, while another big defeat for the Bulldogs sees their poor run of form continue.

Scorers:

Cell C Sharks XV - Tries: Cullen Collopy, Khutha Mchunu, Zee Mkhabela, Charles Mayeza (3), Jeremy Ward, Sicelo Tole, Henry Chamberlain (2), Murray Koster, Penalty Try. Conversions: Inny Radebe (8), Henry Chamberlain (2).

Border - Tries: Sipho Nofemele, Sonwabiso Mqalo, Aphiwe Stemele. Conversions: Stemele (3). Penalty: Dilolo Mapuko.