The Sharks recorded only their second United Rugby Championship win of the season after downing high-flying Ulster 22-12 at King’s Park.
It was the Durbanites’ first URC win since November as they climbed off the URC basement thanks to tries from flanker Phepsi Buthelezi, wing Eduan Keyter and hooker Bongi Mbonambi.
Siya Masuku landed two conversions and a penalty as the temperature nudged 30 degrees at Kings Park while Harry Sheridan and Kieran Treadwell claimed touchdowns for Ulster, with John Cooney kicking one conversion.
But even a losing bonus point eluded interim head coach Richie Murphy in his first game at the helm following Dan McFarland’s departure, with Ulster temporarily going down to 13 players during the final quarter after captain Iain Henderson and centre James Hume were yellow-carded.
The Sharks were dealt an injury blow after just two minutes when number eight George Cronje suffered what appeared to be a serious knee problem and was carried off.
It took both teams time to settle after a lengthy stoppage but a scrappy opening quarter ended with Ulster going ahead.
Treadwell made initial headway, charging to within touching distance of the line, before Sheridan finished off and Cooney’s conversion opened up a seven-point lead.
The Sharks, despite welcoming back Springboks Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am and Eben Etzebeth to their starting line-up, struggled for fluency before they conjured an equalising try out of nothing 13 minutes before half-time.
Ulster were on the attack but they lost possession and Sharks full-back Aphelele Fassi cleared from his own 22, centre Ethan Hooker showed blistering pace to keep the chance alive and Buthelezi touched down, with Masuku adding the extras.
Ulster lost flyhalf Billy Burns to a shoulder injury early in the second period and the visitors went behind to a well-worked Sharks try just four minutes later.
Sharp inter-play between forwards and backs ended with Mapimpi putting a kick in behind Ulster’s defensive line and Keyter finished brilliantly, with Masuku’s conversion making it 14-7.
Masuku then kicked a penalty but Treadwell’s score put Ulster back in contention approaching the hour mark before Mbonambi struck after referee Ben Whitehouse punished Henderson for a high tackle and Hume following a dust-up with Sharks flanker Vincent Tshituka, who was also yellow-carded.
⭐️ Your @Vodacom #URC Player of the Match ⭐️
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 23, 2024
🏅 Ethan Hooker | @SharksRugby
🏅 Damian Willemse | @TheStormers#SHAvULS | #STOvEDI pic.twitter.com/WzyvCQGm7i
Scintillating Stormers outclass Edinburgh
Meanwhile, Suleiman Hartzenberg scored a hat-trick of tries as the Stormers powered to a convincing 43-21 victory over Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Hartzenberg scored three tries and his fellow wing Leolin Zas touched down twice, with the Stormers securing a bonus point before half-time.
Number eight Evan Roos also crossed twice, with Manie Libbok kicking three conversions and Jurie Matthee one, while Edinburgh posted tries by wing Jake Henry, number eight Bill Mata and replacement hooker Paddy Harrison, all converted by Ben Healy.
Lions clinch vital away win
The Lions claimed an impressive 38-14 victory over Connacht at Dexcom Stadium despite losing prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye to an early red card on Saturday.
Having put 40 points on the Sharks last time out, Ivan van Rooyen’s side stunned the Irish province to move into the top eight of the United Rugby Championship.
Bulls clinch clean sweep for impressive SA sides
The high-flying Bulls won 31-10 on Saturday to keep the Dragons at the bottom of the United Rugby Championship standings.
The hosts competed strongly throughout but Bulls always had the additional power and that touch of class to ensure a bonus-point victory that lifts them up to second.
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Mpilo Gumede, Embrose Papier and Johan Grobbelaar scored the South African side’s tries with Chris Smith converting all four and adding a penalty.
