The Cheetahs beat the Lions 53-19 on Friday, handing John Mitchell's last-placed side a 10th defeat in 11 games this Super Rugby season.

Fullback Riaan Viljoen scored three tries for the visiting Cheetahs at Ellis Park, along with scores by centres Corne Uys and Robert Ebersohn. Ebersohn's twin brother Sias landed 10 kicks from 10 for a 26-point haul in the South African derby.

Flanker Joshua Strauss crashed over in the ninth minute for a 7-6 lead for the Lions, but the Cheetahs replied with 40 unanswered points.

Uys, Viljoen and Ebersohn went over in the first half, Viljoen added the bonus-point try in the 65th and won a race to the line in the dying minutes for his hat-trick.

Michael Rhodes and Martin Bezuidenhout scored consolations for the Lions.

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