Sharks have kept alive their remote hopes of reaching the Super 14 semi-finals with a 36-8 victory over the Cats in an all-South African match.

Flanker Jacques Botes and prop BJ Botha crossed for the Sharks in the first half while Adrian Jacobs and Odwa Ndungane, three minutes from time, wrapped up the bonus point in the second half.

The Cats' try was scored by lock Willem Stoltz midway through the second half.

The Sharks will probably have to win their four remaining matches if they are to steal into the play-offs.

The defeat piled up the misery for the Cats. It was their eighth defeat in nine matches and confirmed their status as South Africa's leading contenders for relegation should the country's rugby bosses follow through with a plan to relegate their bottom-placed franchise.

They would be replaced by the newly-created Southern Spears franchise. The Cats have won only six of 53 Super rugby matches over the last five seasons and were outplayed once again.

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