A late interception try by Willie le Roux ensured the Cheetahs beat the Sharks 12-6 in a Super Rugby match played in pouring rain at Durban.

Wing Le Roux pounced in the 78th minute to seal the Cheetahs’ victory with their second try at Kings Park, sending the South African-conference leading Sharks to a second straight defeat and strengthening the Cheetahs’ own playoff hopes with a sixth win in nine games.

Raymond Rhule, the Cheetahs’ other wing, put them ahead with his breakaway try and the game’s first score in the 33rd minute.

The Sharks closed to within a point with a penalty in each half by Pat Lambie before Le Roux’s score, but neither team conquered the conditions enough to produce any consistently good rugby.