Ulster beat Sharks to continue winning URC start

Rugby World Cup

Sharks (5) 26

Cons: Masuku, Jordan Hendrikse, penalties try, Kolisi, Mapimpi, Esterhuizen Cons:

Ulster (20) 34

Ulster maintained their 100% record in the Rugby World Cup with an impressive bonus-point win over the Sharks in an incident-packed game in Durban.

The visitors added a confident result to their victories over the Dragons and Bulls with Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, Tom Stewart, and Callum Reid, who all scored.

Richie Murphy’s side gained 14 points from Nathan Doak’s boot.

The Sharks are winless despite returning five Springboks to their lineup despite making five consecutive penalties and efforts. However, they did score a bonus point as Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi, and Andre Esterhuizen all scored.

However, the Sharks’ lack of discipline led to Vincent Koch and Mapimpi receiving yellow cards for lifting tackles on Lowry, who was given a 20-minute red card after a bunker review.

Ulster blew a 19-0 lead to fall 22-19 to the Sharks in Belfast in April last year.

However, the Irish province persevered in the midst of a tense contest while gaining a few early-season victories.

Everything appeared to be going Ulster’s way for the majority of the first half. When Lowry and Doak worked together well to open the scoring after five minutes, they were off to a great start.

When Kok scored a strong solo try for his first start of the season, the visitors increased their lead.

The Sharks’ failure to capitalize on their opportunities, with Jacob Stockdale holding up Eben Etzebeth on the try line moments after Lowry’s try and Siya Masuku missing two kicks in goal, also helped Ulster’s cause.

After the break, the Sharks appeared more determined, and Mapimpi’s substitution came after Ulster back row Sean Reffell was forced off with a shoulder injury, who had only made Juarno Augustus their starting lineup.

The Sharks were left to rue their lack of discipline, however, as Cook and Mapimpi were both punished for lifting Lowry’s tackle in six minutes, with Mapimpi pulling the Ulster full-back out shortly before Stewart’s third try.

Referee Ben Whitehouse gave the hosts a penalty try after the Sharks had already dominated the scrum, and Ulster’s discipline faltered.

However, a try from Ulster prop Reid survived a television official review and gave his side a 15-point advantage as the hosts were headed for a stirring finale.

Replacements: L Am, S. Matanzima, R. Dreyer, B. Hlekani, E. Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, and F. Mbatha.

Sin-bin: Koch (52), Mapimpi (57)

Ulster: M Lowry, W Kok, J Hume, S. McCloskey, J. Stockdale, J. Murphy, N. Doak, S. Crean, T. Stewart, S. Wilson, I. Henderson, H. Sheridan, D. McCann, N. Timoney, and J. Augustus.

R Herring, C Reid, T O’Toole, J Hopes, S Reffell, C McKee, J Flannery, and J Postlethwaite are the replacements.

Sin-bin: O’Toole (62)