Sharks inflict Stormers’ first URC defeat

The Sharks ended the Stormers’ winning start to this season’s Vodacom URC with a bonus-point victory at a sold-out Cape Town Stadium.

The 30-19 triumph was the KwaZulu-Natalians’ first in the Mother City in five attempts in this competition and moved them up from 14th to 11th on the log.

For the Stormers, it was the end of an eight-match winning run in the tournament and they will relinquish top spot on the log if the Glasgow Warriors beat Zebra later on Saturday night.

This was the most impressive win of Sharks interim coach JP Pietersen’s stint so far, with captain Andre Esterhuizen immense and fullback Aphelele Fassi a worthy Man of the Match recipient.

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The Stormers, meanwhile, were well below their best, with a malfunctioning lineout particularly concerning.

The Sharks suffered a blow before kick-off when Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi was ruled out through injury. Ethan Bester came into the starting XV and Eduan Swart onto the bench.

The visitors shrugged off that disruption, though, with lock Jason Jenkins driven over for a fifth-minute try from a lineout maul.

The Sharks failed to collect the restart and the Stormers made them pay when good work from lock JD Schickerling and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu put midfielder Damian Willemse away.

But the Durbanites then surged into 17-5 lead when Jordan Hendrikse’s cross-kick found left wing Jaco Williams, with the flyhalf slotting the conversion and adding a penalty soon after.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu made amends for a missed penalty-goal attempt by taking a quick penalty tap, which caught the Sharks napping, and putting Willemse over for his second.

SFM catches the Hollywoodbets Sharks napping 😴

Damian Willemse gets his second of the match 🏉🏉

📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/DQYwIK1zzI

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 24, 2026

The Stormers had a lineout maul try ruled out for obstruction late in the half and the Sharks took a 17-12 lead into the break.

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That became 22-12 early in the second half when Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat’s yellow card was followed by Sharks flank Phepsi Buthelezi’s try from a lineout maul.

Jordan Hendrikse missed the conversion but slotted a penalty goal with 12 minutes remaining to extend the lead to 13.

Another botched Stormers lineout inside the 22 was compounded when replacement prop Sazi Sandi was sin-binned for tackling Sharks captain Andre Esterhuizen in the air.

The visitors then put the result beyond doubt when Esterhuizen enhanced his hybrid reputation by going over from a lineout maul.

The Stormers were awarded a late penalty try when Sharks loose forward Vincent Tshituka collapsed a maul, but the hosts’ hopes of getting a losing bonus point ended with yet another lost lineout.

The teams will meet again next Saturday at Kings Park.

STORMERS – Tries: Damian Willemse (2), penalty try. Conversion: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
SHARKS – Tries: Jason Jenkins, Jaco Williams, Phepsi Buthelezi, Andre Esterhuizen. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (2). Penalties: Hendrikse (2).

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images