The Hollywoodbets Sharks scored an impressive 39-21 bonus point win over Exeter Chiefs in Durban in their Round 1 fixture of the 2024/2025 Investec Champions Cup.
The match was "spoilt" by the five yellow cards shown. The Sharks' Eben Etzebeth, Emile van Heerden and Eduan Keyter were all sent off within a period of five minutes reducing the Hollywoodbets Sharks to twelve players during the final quarter of the match.
After Dan Frost opened the scoring for Exeter Chiefs, the Sharks hit back with three tries in six minutes, through Phepsi Buthelezi, Grant Williams and Makazole Mapimpi, before Siya Kolisi got their bonus-point score before the break.
During this fifteen-minute blitzkrieg by the Sharks, the Chiefs were reduced to fourteen players, twice due to yellow cards.
Another try from Frost kept the Chiefs in the game heading into halftime, with the hosts leading 26-14.
After securing the bonus point before half-time, the South African side was in control of the affair come the mid-point of the encounter. The English side came out from the break on a mission though, and Chiefs made sure to ask questions of Sharks.
The only points scored in the second half were a try scored by Siya Kolisi for the Sharks and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the visitors as the hosts prevailed in the South African sun, closing out the win by 39-21.
Scorers:
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Phepsi Buthelezi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi (2). Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4). Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse.
Exeter Chiefs: Tries: Dan Frost (2), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Conversions: Josh Hodge (3)
Teams:
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Ben Hammersley, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Jacques Vermeulen (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Richard Capstick, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio. Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Will Becconsall, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Will Rigg.