Ulster collected maximum log points after inflicting a 31-24 defeat on the Sharks in Durban on Saturday, thus closing in on the second-placed Stormers on the URC log.
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Coming into this clash, the second-ranked Stormers had a comfortable 10-point lead over Ulster in third spot. But this favourable result means the Irish side is now within striking distance of the Cape Town-based team and could well challenge them for that sought after second place in the standings, which comes with a guarantee of home playoff games.
As for the Sharks, they remain in seventh place, but with only the top eight advancing to the knockout stage and with teams like Connacht, Cardiff, Benetton and Edinburgh breathing down their neck, a couple of slip up could potentially see them miss out of a place in the playoffs.
Both teams scored four tries, while Ulster scrumhalf John Cooney converted all five of his goal kick attempts (four conversions and a penalty), Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch miss three out of his five shots at goal and that proved to be all the difference.
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The Sharks drew first blood when Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams crashed over in the first minute and they scored another five-pointer in the first half, but Ulster responded in kind after both of the hosts’ touchdowns and ultimate held a 17-12 lead at the break.
The visitors, who were captained by veteran Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen, dotted down first in the second stanza to double their lead at 24-12. From that point onwards, the Sharks were always playing catch-up and their cause wasn’t helped by Bosch’s inaccurate boot.
It has to be said that while they did lose the match, the Sharks fought valiantly to finish within seven points of their opponents and scoring four tries to come away from the game with two log points.
SHARKS VS ULSTER URC SCORERS
Sharks — Tries: Grant Williams, Thaakir Abrahams, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Boeta Chamberlain. Conversion: Curwin Bosch (2).
Ulster — Tries: Tom Stewart (2), Stewart Moore, Harry Sheridan. Conversions: John Cooney (4). Penalty: Cooney.
URC: Team sheets, kick-off times for Sharks & Lions’ respective games
