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Sharks fightback allows them to claim famous Belfast first for SA

rugby26 April 2025 21:29
By:Brenden Nel
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An exceptional second-half fightback allowed the Hollywoodbets Sharks to record a famous 22-19 victory over Ulster and thereby become the first South African side to record a win in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Belfast.

Staring down the barrel at 19-0 down in the first half, the Sharks resurrected their hopes and gave their ambitions to finish in the top four a boost with the powerful second-half display, drawing level after two tries and then watching as Jordan Hendrikse slotted the easiest of penalties with less than three minutes to go to clinch the game.

It was a remarkable victory, not only because of the fightback, but also the way the Sharks switched momentum in their favour in the second half and finished the stronger side at the end of a very successful two-week tour.

Last weekend’s win in Edinburgh and this victory in Belfast leave the Sharks firmly in fourth spot on the log, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Cardiff and with two home games left for the regular season, they surely have all but sewn up their top four spot with this victory.

That won’t necessarily be easy. Their next two opponents - Welsh sides Ospreys and Scarlets both won this weekend, with the latter pulling off a shock win over log leaders Leinster to underline their credentials in the top eight race.

RESILIENCE AND GRIT

It was a win that - like the Bulls in Glasgow 24 hours before - showed the resilience and grit of South African sides and the never-say-die attitude that has taken the Sharks this far in the competition.

But it also highlighted the first half of flaws, where their defence let them down and placed the mountain for them to climb in the second half.

It is a testament to the talent in the side that they were able to rise from the dead to score this massive victory, but it also shows they are very much still a work in progress, even though their star-studded line-up says otherwise on paper.

Perhaps the subdued nature of the opening 20 minutes for the Sharks was due to losing their talisman - Springbok Eben Etzebeth to flu - before the start of the game.

The withdrawal prompted Vincent Tshituka to move into the unfamiliar lock position while his brother Emmanuel moved into blindside flank.

Or perhaps it was the desperation of the home side to make the top eight, the emotion of their last home game for the season and some noteworthy performances that just overwhelmed the Sharks in the first half.

ONE-WAY CONTEST IN FIRST HALF

Two tries in two minutes set the tone for Ulster and a third later in the half made it look as if it was going to be a one-way contest.

And yet, the Sharks found their way back, scoring a try late in the first half and then taking over the domination of the contest early in the second.

Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale was a player that caused immense problems for the Sharks defence with his direct hard running in the first half, and was easily the most influential player in the home side, while the Sharks could easily point to the performances of Aphelele Fassi, Siya Kolisi, both Tshituka brothers and an incredible shift by Jason Jenkins - who must have played his best game in a Sharks jersey - in their MVP debates afterwards.

There was also an incredible short cameo by replacement tighthead prop Hanro Jacobs, who featured prominently in both the second-half tries and was a key ball carrier for the side in the crucial moments in the second half.

And the mountain they faced was a lot of their own doing in that first half, especially as they failed to keep pace with Ulster’s hard running style, led by Stockdale, that found big gaping holes in the defence.

It was Stockdale that set up the opening try, sweeping down the near side to beat the defenders and take it up close to the line.

The recycle just had to move through the hands, and it did to good effect, with Jack Murphy finishing off the move.

Then, two minutes later, a dropped pass was kicked through by Nathan Doak and the chase was on.

Kolisi missed the ball in trying to retrieve it and Zack Ward pounced, and popped the ball to Jude Postlethwaite to put Ulster 12-0 up.

On the half hour Stockdale joined the backline to motor down the touchline, chipped over the defence and collected before passing to Doak to go and score.

Thirty minutes gone and the Sharks were staring at a 19-0 deficit with no hope in sight.

FIGHTBACK STARTED LATE IN FIRST HALF

But the Sharks weren’t going to be run over. Three minutes later a crucial break by Jenkins, who thundered 20 metres up field to metres in front of the Ulster line, was stopped before the recycled ball was bulleted wide to Makazole Mapimpi, who went over in the corner.

As Jenkins tried to pop the ball up, Stockdale stuck a hand out, and was awarded a yellow card for his cynical error, allowing the try to stand.

The Sharks also were unlucky as two minutes later they scored again, using turnover ball to move down the hands and put Mapimpi in space down the touchline.

But somewhere the TMO saw a forward pass, much to the delight of the home crowd, and the try was cancelled.

It left the Sharks 17-5 down at the break and still with a mountain to climb.

It took until the 60th minute for them to get the momentum in their favour, when a series of hard punches up the middle made Ulster take a step back.

The relentless attack and physical battering was taking its toll and after Jacobs took them close, it was Emmanuel Tshituka who had the momentum to go over from close range and give the Sharks hope.

Ten minutes later replacement Jurenzo Julius underlined his habit to pop up and score as he was on the back of a similar forward battering, opening up the space for him to slip through a hole and put the Sharks level.

From then it was who wanted it more. And when the Sharks got the opportunity, they won a penalty in front 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 is no mean feat, and the Sharks will know that.

Indeed, the courageous fightback will live long in the memories of a team finding its identity.

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.

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