An distinctive second-half fightback allowed the Hollywoodbets Sharks to document a well-known 22-19 victory over Ulster and thereby grow to be the primary South African aspect to document a win within the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Belfast.
Staring down the barrel at 19-0 down within the first half, the Sharks resurrected their hopes and gave their ambitions to complete within the high 4 a lift with the highly effective second-half show, drawing stage after two tries after which watching as Jordan Hendrikse slotted the best of penalties with lower than three minutes to go to clinch the sport.
It was a exceptional victory, not solely due to the fightback, but additionally the best way the Sharks switched momentum of their favour within the second half and completed the stronger aspect on the finish of a really profitable two-week tour.
It is one other smash-and-grab win for the Hollywoodbets Sharks as they continue to be unbeaten on tour ⚡#VURC pic.twitter.com/KKbYaVADMP
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 26, 2025
Final weekend’s win in Edinburgh and this victory in Belfast depart the Sharks firmly in fourth spot on the log, seven factors forward of fifth-placed Cardiff and with two house video games left for the common season, they certainly have all however sewn up their high 4 spot with this victory.
That received’t essentially be straightforward. Their subsequent two opponents – Welsh sides Ospreys and Scarlets each received this weekend, with the latter pulling off a shock win over log leaders Leinster to underline their credentials within the high eight race.
RESILIENCE AND GRIT
It was a win that – just like the Bulls in Glasgow 24 hours earlier than – confirmed the resilience and grit of South African sides and the never-say-die perspective that has taken the Sharks this far within the competitors.
However it additionally highlighted the primary half of flaws, the place their defence allow them to down and positioned the mountain for them to climb within the second half.
It’s a testomony to the expertise within the aspect that they had been in a position to rise from the useless to attain this large victory, nevertheless it additionally reveals they’re very a lot nonetheless a piece in progress, though their star-studded line-up says in any other case on paper.
Maybe the subdued nature of the opening 20 minutes for the Sharks was as a result of shedding their talisman – Springbok Eben Etzebeth to flu – earlier than the beginning of the sport.
The withdrawal prompted Vincent Tshituka to maneuver into the unfamiliar lock place whereas his brother Emmanuel moved into blindside flank.
Or maybe it was the desperation of the house aspect to make the highest eight, the emotion of their final house recreation for the season and a few noteworthy performances that simply overwhelmed the Sharks within the first half.
ONE-WAY CONTEST IN FIRST HALF
Two tries in two minutes set the tone for Ulster and a 3rd later within the half made it look as if it was going to be a one-way contest.
And but, the Sharks discovered their method again, scoring a attempt late within the first half after which taking up the domination of the competition early within the second.
Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale was a participant that prompted immense issues for the Sharks defence together with his direct exhausting operating within the first half, and was simply essentially the most influential participant within the house aspect, whereas the Sharks might simply level to the performances of Aphelele Fassi, Siya Kolisi, each Tshituka brothers and an unimaginable shift by Jason Jenkins – who will need to have performed his finest recreation in a Sharks jersey – of their MVP debates afterwards.
There was additionally an unimaginable brief cameo by alternative tighthead prop Hanro Jacobs, who featured prominently in each the second-half tries and was a key ball service for the aspect within the essential moments within the second half.
And the mountain they confronted was plenty of their very own doing in that first half, particularly as they didn’t preserve tempo with Ulster’s exhausting operating type, led by Stockdale, that discovered huge gaping holes within the defence.
It was Stockdale that arrange the opening attempt, sweeping down the close to aspect to beat the defenders and take it up near the road.
The recycle simply needed to transfer by means of the fingers, and it did to good impact, with Jack Murphy ending off the transfer.
Then, two minutes later, a dropped cross was kicked by means of by Nathan Doak and the chase was on.
Kolisi missed the ball in making an attempt to retrieve it and Zack Ward pounced, and popped the ball to Jude Postlethwaite to place Ulster 12-0 up.
On the half hour Stockdale joined the backline to motor down the touchline, chipped over the defence and picked up earlier than passing to Doak to go and rating.
Thirty minutes gone and the Sharks had been observing a 19-0 deficit with no hope in sight.
FIGHTBACK STARTED LATE IN FIRST HALF
However the Sharks weren’t going to be run over. Three minutes later an important break by Jenkins, who thundered 20 metres up subject to metres in entrance of the Ulster line, was stopped earlier than the recycled ball was bulleted huge to Makazole Mapimpi, who went over within the nook.
The carry from Jason Jenkins 💪😮💨
Mapimpi will get the Sharks’ first factors of the match ➡️
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: pic.twitter.com/hhkjIcwUHb
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 26, 2025
As Jenkins tried to pop the ball up, Stockdale caught a hand out, and was awarded a yellow card for his cynical error, permitting the attempt to stand.
The Sharks additionally had been unfortunate as two minutes later they scored once more, utilizing turnover ball to maneuver down the fingers and put Mapimpi in house down the touchline.
However someplace the TMO noticed a ahead cross, a lot to the delight of the house crowd, and the attempt was cancelled.
Strive or no attempt? 👀
Mapimpi’s second is chalked off to a ahead cross ❌
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: pic.twitter.com/EoVct9HVY6
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 26, 2025
It left the Sharks 17-5 down on the break and nonetheless with a mountain to climb.
It took till the sixtieth minute for them to get the momentum of their favour, when a sequence of exhausting punches up the center made Ulster take a step again.
The relentless assault and bodily battering was taking its toll and after Jacobs took them shut, it was Emmanuel Tshituka who had the momentum to go over from shut vary and provides the Sharks hope.
Ten minutes later alternative Jurenzo Julius underlined his behavior to pop up and rating as he was on the again of an identical ahead battering, opening up the house for him to slide by means of a gap and put the Sharks stage.
From then it was who wished it extra. And when the Sharks obtained the chance, they received a penalty in entrance of the posts that made it a fait accompli for Hendrikse to be the hero.
Two wins from two at this stage of the season isn’t any imply feat, and the Sharks will know that.
Certainly, the brave fightback will dwell lengthy within the reminiscences of a workforce discovering its id.
Scorers
Ulster – tries: Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite, Nathan Doak. Conversions: Murphy (2)
Hollywoodbets Sharks – tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jurenzo Julius. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (2). Penalty: Hendrikse.
