A classy second-half fightback by the Hollywoodbets Sharks saw them overturn a disappointing 19-5 halftime deficit into a nail-biting 22-19 victory against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, earning the Durbanites the bragging rights as the first South African team to earn a win in Belfast.
Making the victory even more significant, the KwaZulu-Natalians managed this incredible feat after having to make last-minute changes to their team following the withdrawal of Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth due to illness.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks started the match strongly with Bok centre Lukhanyo Am threatening to score in the opening exchanges, but this was short-lived as Ulster scored three tries in the opening 29 minutes, thanks to their enterprising attack to take a 19-0 lead.
The visitors fought back with a try by Bok speedster Makazole Mapimpi in 33rd minute after a great break and fantastic team play to spread the ball wide, and they had another go at the tryline in the 39th minute when Mapimpi crossed the whitewash once again while Ulster were reduced to 14 men, only to be denied the try due to a forward pass.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks took the match by the scruff of the neck in the second half as they stepped up the quality of their attack and placed immense pressure on the defence, which paid off with tries by Emmanuel Tshituka and Jurenzo Julius within nine minutes to level the scores at 19 points apiece with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Bok flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse then dealt the killer blow to Ulster’s hopes of a victory or draw in the 77th minute as he slotted the winning penalty goal in a dramatic finish to the exciting match.
Scorers:
Ulster Rugby: Tries: Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite, Nathan Doak. Conversions: Jack Murphy (2).
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jurenzo Julius. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (2). Penalty goal: Jordan Hendrikse.
Teams:
Ulster Rugby: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 James McNabney, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Alan O’Connor (c), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Andrew Warwick. Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Kieran Treadwell, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Aidan Morgan, 23 David McCann.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Jurenzo Julius, 17 Fez Mbatha, 18 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 19 Hanro Jacobs, 20 Manu Tshituka, 21 Phepsi Buthelezi, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Siya Masuku.