Ulster produced a stunning performance to secure a statement 34-26 victory against a Springbok-laden Sharks side at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday, maintaining their perfect start to the United Rugby Championship season with a third consecutive bonus-point win.
Key moments
6′ – Michael Lowry try after slick Ulster handling, Nathan Doak converts (0-7)
15′ – Nathan Doak penalty goal after Sharks offside (0-10)
20′ – Werner Kok try against former club, Nathan Doak converts (0-17)
33′ – Siya Kolisi try from close range after dominant maul, Siya Masuku conversion missed (5-17)
37′ – Nathan Doak penalty goal (5-20)
Half-time: Sharks 5-20 Ulster
40′ – Sean Reffell replaces Juarno Augustus for Ulster
45′ – Sean Reffell leaves with shoulder injury, Tom Stewart forced to play in back row
49′ – Makazole Mapimpi try from scrum platform, Siya Masuku converts (12-20)
52′ – Vincent Koch yellow card for dangerous tackle on Michael Lowry
56′ – Tom Stewart try from Nathan Doak grubber kick, Nathan Doak converts (12-27)
57′ – Makazole Mapimpi yellow card upgraded to 20-minute red card after review
62′ – Tom O’Toole yellow card for repeated Ulster infringements
63′ – Penalty try awarded to Sharks after scrum dominance (19-27)
67′ – Callum Reid try from close range, Nathan Doak converts (19-34)
71′ – Andre Esterhuizen try after sustained pressure, Jordan Hendrikse converts (26-34)
79′ – Nick Timoney crucial turnover to secure Ulster victory
Full-time: Sharks 26-34 Ulster
Richie Murphy’s men withstood intense pressure from the hosts, particularly at scrum time, to claim a valuable win that moves them towards the top of the URC standings. Man-of-the-match Nathan Doak was instrumental throughout, contributing 14 points from the tee and providing two superb assists for tries.
The visitors made a blistering start to the match, displaying confidence and ambition in the Durban heat. Their first try came after just six minutes through a flowing backline move that began with a strong carry from Stuart McCloskey. Jack Murphy and Doak combined brilliantly before the scrum-half found Michael Lowry with a sharp pass, allowing the electric full-back to race over for the opening score. Doak added the extras to give Ulster an early 7-0 lead.
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Despite the Sharks pack showing their muscle to win an early scrum penalty, Ulster continued to look dangerous with ball in hand. A period of sustained pressure led to a penalty for offside in the 15th minute, with Doak extending the lead to 10-0 with a well-struck kick that mastered the tricky winds.
The Sharks’ frustration mounted as they squandered an early opportunity when Jacob Stockdale brilliantly held up Eben Etzebeth over the line shortly after Lowry’s try. Siya Masuku’s kicking woes also contributed to the hosts’ problems as he missed two first-half penalty attempts, including one that struck the upright.
Ulster’s second try arrived in the 20th minute, and it was a special moment for former Sharks wing Werner Kok on his return to the Shark Tank. Mike Lowry created the initial break before feeding Kok, who produced a great piece of individual skill and athleticism to score against his former employers. Doak’s conversion made it 17-0, leaving the home crowd stunned.
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The Sharks, featuring five returning Rugby Championship winners in Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams and Andre Esterhuizen, gradually began to find their feet as their forward pack established dominance. David McCann produced a top-class jackal turnover to ease the pressure momentarily, but the hosts eventually crossed the line in the 33rd minute when captain Siya Kolisi peeled off a well-executed driving maul to power over from close range. Masuku pushed the conversion attempt wide, leaving the score at 17-5.
Ulster had the final say of the first half when the Sharks were penalised for offside, allowing Doak to once again master the tricky conditions and slot his second penalty for a commanding 20-5 half-time lead – a scoreline that fairly reflected the visitors’ superior organisation and clinical execution.
Ulster made one change at the interval with Sean Reffell replacing Juarno Augustus in the back row. The substitute immediately made his presence felt with a brilliant jackal turnover on the Sharks’ possession, but his cameo would prove short-lived as he was forced off with a shoulder injury just minutes later. This required a significant reshuffle with Rob Herring entering the fray at hooker and Tom Stewart having to fill in as a makeshift back-rower.
The Sharks emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and appeared far more cohesive than in the opening forty minutes. Their scrum continued to cause problems for Ulster, with the pressure telling in the 49th minute when a dominant set-piece provided the platform for an attack down the blindside. Grant Williams fed Makazole Mapimpi who finished well in the corner to lift the home crowd’s spirits. Masuku, who seemed to have found his kicking boots again, added the extras to reduce the deficit to 20-12 and give the hosts genuine hope of a comeback.
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However, the match swung dramatically in Ulster’s favour just minutes later when Vincent Koch was shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute for a dangerous tip tackle on Michael Lowry, though the referee noted the South African prop had safely returned his opponent to the ground. With the Sharks temporarily reduced to 14 men, Ulster looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
Disaster struck for the hosts in the 57th minute when Mapimpi was also shown a yellow card for a similar dangerous tackle on Lowry at the start of a move that culminated in Ulster’s third try. Following a TMO review, this card was upgraded to a 20-minute red, leaving the Sharks down to 14 men until the 77th minute of the match.
The incident occurred at the beginning of a brilliant Ulster counter-attack. Michael Lowry, Werner Kok and Doak combined superbly as the visitors struck swiftly from their own half. Doak provided the decisive moment with a perfectly weighted grubber kick that Stewart, now operating in the back row, gathered before diving over the line. Doak’s conversion extended Ulster’s lead to 27-12, giving them crucial breathing room.
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Despite being a man down, the Sharks continued to apply pressure through their dominant scrum. Ulster’s discipline began to falter, conceding a series of penalties in their own half. Referee Ben Whitehouse finally lost patience in the 62nd minute, showing Tom O’Toole a yellow card for the team’s repeated infringements near their own line. From the resulting scrum, the Sharks pack surged forward and was deemed to have been illegally stopped, leading Whitehouse to award a penalty try that reduced the gap to 27-19.
The pivotal moment came in the 67th minute when Ulster, despite being under immense pressure at times, worked their way into the Sharks’ 22. After a series of powerful carries, replacement prop Callum Reid burrowed over from close range. The try was sent upstairs for review, with Sharks players protesting that the prop had grounded the ball short of the line. However, the on-field decision stood despite replays suggesting it was a questionable call. Doak’s conversion made it 34-19, giving Ulster a commanding 15-point lead with just over ten minutes remaining.
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The Sharks refused to surrender, and with nine minutes remaining, Andre Esterhuizen crashed over for their bonus-point try following sustained pressure. Jordan Hendrikse, who had replaced Siya Masuku, added the conversion with an improvised kick after the ball fell off the tee, bringing the score to 34-26 and setting up a tense finale.
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With momentum shifting back towards the hosts, Ulster needed to show defensive steel to close out the match. Nick Timoney delivered when it mattered most, producing a brilliant turnover with minutes left on the clock to secure possession for his side. The Ulster players managed the remaining time expertly, keeping the ball until the final whistle triggered jubilant celebrations from the travelling side.
This result represents a significant statement from Richie Murphy’s Ulster side, who have now won three consecutive bonus-point matches to start their URC campaign. For the Sharks, despite welcoming back their Springbok contingent, it was a disappointing first home game of the season, leaving them still searching for their first win and with just one point from a possible 15.
“Sweet as they come,” said man-of-the-match Nathan Doak after the final whistle. “To come over here and win at a place like this is special – one I’ll remember for a long time. We’ll enjoy tonight, then it’s on to the Lions next week.”
The scrum-half also praised the team spirit within the Ulster squad: “I love this team. I’m out there with my best mates and we’ll fight for everything. The South African lads like Werner and Juarno add massive value.”
This victory continues an excellent start to the season for Ulster under coach Richie Murphy, who will view this result as a significant marker of their progress. The Irish province showed remarkable resilience, particularly in the face of the Sharks’ scrum dominance, and clinical execution when opportunities arose.
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For the Sharks, who appeared to lack cohesion despite their impressive individual talent, the defeat highlighted the challenges of integrating returning international players. The fact that many of their Springbok players had only been reintroduced to the squad on Wednesday gave them little time to gel as a unit. Coach John Plumtree will need to find solutions quickly as they prepare to host the winless Scarlets next Saturday, still seeking their first victory of the campaign.
Ulster, meanwhile, face another tough test in the second leg of their South African tour when they travel to Johannesburg to take on the Emirates Lions at Ellis Park next Saturday, looking to make it four wins from four to start the season.
Sharks: Edwill van der Merwe; Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Siya Masuku, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch; Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie; Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka (capt), Phepsi Buthelezi.
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Simphiwe Matanzima, Ruan Dreyer, Bathobele Hlekani, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Lukhanyo Am.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Sam Crean, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson; Iain Henderson (capt), Harry Sheridan; David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole, Joe Hopes, Sean Reffell, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
