URC: Ulster 19 Sharks 22
Ulster’s late season charge to reach the URC playoffs suffered what could be severe damage after losing control of their final regular season home game to the star-laden Sharks.
The province had led 19-0 on the half-hour thanks to tries from Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite and Nathan Doak and were still in front by 19-5 at the break only for a power surge from the Sharks to gradually claw things back with Jordan Hendrikse’s 77th-minute penalty bringing them the four points.
“We’ll be fighting all the way to the end,” Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said afterwards.
“Until there’s nothing left to play for, we’ll be playing, and I think we’ve shown that over the last number of weeks some great commitment out of the lads.”
The game was only six minutes old when Jacob Stockdale raced through, Ulster recycled, and Cormac Izuchukwu offloaded to Jack Murphy on the wing to score. The outhalf missed the tricky conversion, but Ulster had the ideal start.
Three minutes later and it got better for the hosts, a ball hacked downfield by Nathan Doak was collected by Ward and the ball found its way to Jude Postlethwaite who ran in unopposed. This time Murphy converted.
It took until just before the half-hour for another score and again it fell to the hosts. Stockdale again made ground, chipped, collected and then drew the cover to put Nathan Doak over under the posts.
Murphy’s conversion was a formality and took it to 19-0.
The Sharks finally responded and on penalty advantage, Makazole Mapimpi scored in the left corner, and though Jordan Hendrikse was wide with the conversion, Ben Whitehouse showed Stockdale a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
The Sharks made the extra man count again, or thought they had, when slick hands put Mapimpi over again in the same corner though the score was ruled out for a forward pass, allowing Ulster finish the half leading 19-5.
On the hour and with the Sharks beginning to put some power plays together, Manu Tshituka smashed through on penalty advantage at the posts. Jordan Hendrikse converted to cut Ulster’s lead.
It was all Sharks now and on 69 minutes, centre Jurenzo Julius wove through a tiring Ulster defence to score under the posts. Jordan Hendrikse converted to tie things up at 19-all.
With the momentum still with the Sharks, a penalty in the 77th minute was put over by Jordan Hendrikse and the visitors had the lead for the first time and held it.
Ulster: Tries: J Murphy, J Postlethwaite, N Doak Cons: J Murphy 2
Sharks: Tries: M Mapimpi, M Tshituka, J Julius Cons: Jordan Hendrikse 2 Pens: Jordan Hendrikse 1
Ulster: J Stockdale, W Kok, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak; A Warwick, R Herring, S Wilson; A O’Connor, C Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, N Timoney, J McNabney
Replacements: C Reid for Warwick (62 mins), T Stewart for Herring, D McCann for McNabney, K Treadwell for O’Connor (70 mins), B O’Connor for Wilson, M Dalton for Izuchukwu (74 mins), D Shanahan, A Morgan.
Yellow card: J Stockdale 33 mins
Sharks: A Fassi, E Hooker, L Am, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi, J Hendrikse, J Hendrikse, O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch, V Tshituka, J Jenkins, J Venter, M Tshituka, S Kolisi
Replacements: H Jacobs for Koch (h-t), J Julius for Am (52 mins), F Mbatha for Mbonambi, P Buthelezi for J Venter, N Mchunu for Nche (62 mins), P B Davids for Jaden Hendrikse (73 mins), D Slabbert, S Masuku
Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales)
