Sharks withstand Cheetahs comeback Coastal Sharks withstood a brave second half comeback by Central Cheetahs to win their Super Rugby opening round clash 29-22 on Saturday. The Sharks, runners-up to New Zealand's Chiefs last season, led by 21 points with 30 minutes to go at sun-baked Free State Stadium before the Cheetahs finally came alive. Tries from flank Pieter 'Lappies' Labuschagne and new centre Johann Sadie and two conversions and a penalty from fly-half Johan Goosen narrowed the gap to just four points 12 minutes from time. Many in the 14,500 crowd were dreaming of a Cheetahs victory only for Sharks fly-half Patrick Lambie to complete a memorable individual performance with a close-range penalty. The Cheetahs didn't give up; fullback Hennie Daniller sprinted forward to grab a kick-off and was stopped just short of the try-line and a turnover from lock Pieter-Steph du Toit stopped another promising home surge. But all the Bloemfontein team had to show at the final whistle was a bonus point for losing by fewer than eight points - not the ideal start with an Australasian tour starting next weekend against the Chiefs. "We knew the Cheetahs would come back and I am proud of my team for holding on and getting the win we desperately needed," said Sharks centre Francois Steyn, the stand-in skipper with loose forward Keegan Daniel injured. Man of the match and incumbent Springbok No.10 Lambie, who contributed 19 points from five penalties and two conversions, did not miss a shot at goal and his tactical kicking was often superb. "I felt really good out there even if my lungs were ready to explode on a few occasions because of the altitude," he said. Cheetahs were really formidable opponents with the X-factor all over their backline. Cheetahs were first to score with No.8 Philip van der Walt barging over after a line-out, but three Lambie penalties and the conversion of an opportunist Lwazi Mvovo try allowed Sharks to turn 16-5 ahead. Marcell Coetzee dived over after a forward surge and Lambie converted and added a penalty to push Sharks to a 26-5 lead before a Cheetahs side, struggling in the scrums and line-outs, clicked. Cheetahs face Chiefs next Saturday in Hamilton and Sharks host Western Stormers, who lost 25-17 at Northern Bulls on Friday, in a repeat of the 2012 semi-final.