Robert du Preez’s team outscored the home side by 6-1 tries and bagged a well-deserved bonus-point victory for a rare win on the Highveld, and to bounce back from their last-minute loss to the Vodacom Bulls in Durban.

The convincing win was also the perfect gift for the experienced Cell C Sharks prop Beast Mtawarira, who became the South African record-holder for the most appearance in the competition when he earned his 157th cap for the Durban team.

The Durbanites also leapfrogged the Highvelders into the first spot on the South African Conference log and they now sit on 21 points from seven matches, three more than the Emirates Lions.

The visitors hardly put a foot wrong in an impressive first half display which was marked by superb attacking play by the impressive Bosch, another silky midfield performance by Lukhanyo Am and some clinical finishing by speedster Makazole Mapimpi.

Jacques Vermeulen opened the try scoring for the visiting team and he was followed by Mapimpi (2) and Am. However, it was Bosch who grabbed the attention throughout with some dazzling runs from deep while he also had a helping hand in almost every threatening move by the visiting side.

Replacement Sylvian Mahuza scored the home team’s consolation try two minutes before the end of play, however, the last laugh belonged to the Cell C Sharks and Bosch, who popped up once more for a try-assist to put replacement Aphelele Fassi over in the corner.

Scorers:

Emirates Lions 5 (0) - Try: Sylvian Mahuza.

Cell C Sharks 42 (25) - Tries: Jacques Vermeulen, Makazole Mapimpi (2), Lukhanyo Am, Thomas du Toit, Aphelele Fassi; Conversions: Robert du Preez, Curwin Bosch (2); Penalties: Du Preez, Bosch.