The Hollywoodbets Sharks stuttered to a 26-34 loss to Ulster with thirteen Springboks in their starting line-up. The Sharks are still looking for their first win of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship, and the way they played it will take them an extended time to secure that elusive first win.
Ulster made a great start to the match and, following a strong maul, they spread the ball to the left with Michael Lowry scoring the first points of the match with a splendid try. The defence, or lack thereof, did play its part too. Nathan Doak converted to claim a 07-00 lead for Ulster after five minutes of play.
Ten minutes later, Nathan Doak converted a penalty to extend the Ulster lead deservedly to 10-00.
The Sharks missed two attempts to convert penalties, whereafter, Werner Kok used the smallest of spaces to beat several defenders to score a scintillating try for Ulster. Doak added the extra two points to lead 17-00 after twenty minutes of play.
With eight minutes to play and the Sharks' pack of forwards dominating, Siya Kolisi scored off the back of a five-meter lineout ball to cut Ulster’s lead to 17-05.
A late penalty converted by Nathan Doak extended Ulster’s lead to 20-05, which was also the score going into the halftime break.
The Sharks dominated the scrums, which they used to set up camp in Ulster’s red zone. Following a penalty, the Sharks opted for a scrum, dominated and then spread the ball wide to Makazole Mapimpi, who cruised to score the Sharks' first try in the corner. Siya Masuku converted to reduce Ulster’s lead to 20-12.
Ulster attacked from within their own half, and following several missed tackles and brilliant work by Werner Kok and Nathan Doak, hooker Tom Stewart scored an easy try. Doak converted to extend Ulster’s lead to 27-12.
A penalty try awarded to the Sharks off a massive scrum cut Ulster’s lead to 27-19 with seventeen minutes to play in the second half.
Ulster struck back two minutes later when Tom Stewart forced his way over the tryline to score Ulster’s bonus-point try, extending Ulster’s lead to 34-19 following Nathan Doak’s conversion.
The Sharks struck back when Andre Esterhuizen bulldozed his way over Ulster’s defenders. Jaden Hendrikse converted to cut Ulster’s lead to 26-34.
Teams
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Edwill van der Merwe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jurenzo Julius,12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Manu Tshituka, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Lukhanyo Am.
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 David McCann, 5 Harry Sheridan, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Sam Crean. Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Tom Stewart, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Joe Hopes, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Jude Postlethwaite.