URC result: Sharks secure bonus-point win against Ospreys in Durban
The Sharks have re-signalled their intent to finish as high on the URC table as they can after a dominant performance against the Welsh side, winning 29–10.
Sharks lock Jason Jenkins scores his team's first try against Ospreys at Kings Park Stadium. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The Sharks' dream of a top-two finish in the United Rugby Championship is alive and well after a commanding bonus-point win over the Ospreys at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Friday.
The 29–10 result means the Sharks still lie fourth on the table. However, they are even on points with the Bulls and lie just one point behind Glasgow Warriors, who, although they have a game in hand, have tough away fixtures against Benetton and URC leaders Leinster left this season.
The gap in skill between the Sharks and 11th-ranked Ospreys was evident just about from the get-go. The Sharks, also playing at home, proved better in discipline and won most of the contests at the breakdown.
The players who led with the most carries, line breaks, and turnovers all came from the Durban side.
The only blemish on the Sharks' performance was an injury to captain Eben Etzebeth, who has already missed much of the season recovering from a concussion.
Sharks dominate Ospreys
The Ospreys wasted no time putting points on the board, securing a penalty kick within the first minute of the game. It was the first and only time the visitors led on the scoreboard.
The Sharks responded nine minutes later with lock Jason Jenkins crashing over for a converted try.
The score remained unchanged with the Sharks applying pressure until centre André Esterhuizen broke the line to score in the 34th minute. That left it 14–3 at the break.
Ethan Hooker extended the lead after Ospreys spilled an up-and-under in the 52nd minute. However, Ospreys pulled one back right at the start of the final quarter through a try from a maul from substitute Sam Parry. That made it 21–10 to the Sharks.
But it was not to be. Sharks substitute Phepsi Buthelezi scored the bonus-point try from a gorgeous cross kick by Aphelele Fassi in the 65th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Scorers
Sharks: Tries – Jason Jenkins, André Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Phepsi Buthelezi. Conversions – Siya Masuku 2/3, Aphelele Fassi 1/1. Penalties – Masuku 1/1.
Ospreyss: Tries – Sam Parry . Conversions – Dan Edwards 1/1. Penalties – Edwards 1/1.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Gone, but not forgotten: Joost's son shares sweet tribute
The son of the late Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen paid a touching tribute to his famous father at the Loftus Versfeld stadium last weekend. Jordan, whose mother is Amor Vittone, was a teen when the rugby player died in 2017 of motor neurone disease. The now 21-year-old is a model and rising soccer star. Last weekend, Loftus was alight with excitement for the Bulls vs Sharks URC semi-final. Jordan, representing his famous father, donned a Bulls shirt in memory of his dad's home club. The young man, who bears a striking resemblance to his dad, showed off the words 'Dad, Joost' printed across the back. The sweet tribute acknowledged Joost's home at Loftus and the number 9, which was his jersey number for both the Pretoria club and the Springboks. Jordan's mom, Amor, posted the pictures on Facebook, liking comments from her followers who claimed that Joost would be 'proud' of his son. At the time of his death in 2017, Amor and Joost were separated after 15 years of marriage. The couple also have a daughter, 18-year-old Kylie. Jordan and friends at Loftus Versfeld Stadium tonight ❤️ #rugbyleague #Loftus #game #bullsrugby Posted by Amor Vittone on Saturday 7 June 2025 The son of the late Springbok and Bulls player, Jordan van der Westhuizen, is pursuing his own path in sports. But unlike rugby legend Joost, the 21-year-old has taken up soccer. Having previously played for the Valencia youth academy as a goalkeeper, Jordan later joined the UK's Reading Academy. And he's one step closer to his goal. According to Amor Vittone, Jordan is keen to one day play for his dream club, Liverpool. Apart from his love of soccer, Jordan is also a professional model, and he has signed up with the Ice Model Agency. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
The South African
5 hours ago
- The South African
Springbok star hit by 2025 injury scare – Doubtful for the year
It's been a season to remember for loose forward Cameron Hanekom, who has broken onto the scene at the tender age of 21, earning a Springbok debut last year and recently winning URC's Next-Gen Player of the Season. His versatile skills have captivated Rassie Erasmus, who handed the Paarl Boy native his Springbok debut last year, a player who has been tipped as one of South Africa's next best talents. The green and gold's new star. The Bulls enforcer was forced off during his side's URC semi-final victory over Siya Kolisi's Sharks on Saturday and was later spotted sporting crutches on the sideline over what is believed to be a hamstring injury, ruling him out for the foreseeable future. A further assessment awaits, which will determine his recovery time, and whether he will be available for the Springboks this year; there's a chance he returns in August, while the worst case scenario has him ruled out for several months. We wish you a speedy recovery, Hanekom. Former Springbok coach, now Bulls boss Jake White provided the latest update regarding the Springbok youngster's injury, saying, 'He's just having a sonar (scan) now. Obviously he's very upset, that's natural. But I said to his parents now that we forget he's just 21,' 'When I started coaching, 21 year old forwards weren't invited to Northern Transvaal training. And if they were it was really to be cannon fodder for the old men to bash them on a Monday night (in training).' 'So he's obviously jumped the queue because he's so talented, and he feels a bit down now. But we mustn't forget he's just 21 years old, and there's still a lot of rugby that he's going to be involved in over the next few years.' 'When it is swollen and there's blood (in the injury), you can't really see (how bad it is). They had a look and he won't play next week, that I can tell you. He thinks he can. He said he might go to the same doctor (Johan) Goosen went to (after a recent knee injury that also looked very serious),' he said. 'But I can't see it. He can't travel with that injury. I'm hoping for his sake it's like Goosen, a short-term rather than a long-term injury.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
6 hours ago
- The Herald
Leinster are Irish Test side in disguise — White
It will be comparable to playing an Irish Test team when the Bulls go toe-to-toe with star-studded Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship final, coach Jake White says. Rugby fever is building in Dublin as the finalists prepare for a bruising, no-holds-barred battle for glory at the cavernous 82,000-seat Croke Park Stadium (kickoff 6pm). Buoyed by a tenacious semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls will be going all out to lift the silverware. 'We have to travel to play an international team, and it is going to be tough,' White said. 'It is going to be like Ireland versus the Bulls and I'm not underplaying it. 'Ireland have beaten the All Blacks and many big teams. 'So, we have to work hard and get things to work in our favour in Dublin. 'We must recover well from bumps and bruises sustained in the semifinal and then we have to play very well. 'Look at what Leinster did to Glasgow in their semifinal and look at what Glasgow did to us last year. 'They did not struggle to beat Glasgow and will be on a high now going into a final at home.' White expects the final to be decided on the finest of margins and says his team must remain composed throughout. 'The wonderful thing for us is that we have a lotto ticket,' he said. 'You can't win the lotto if you don't have a ticket. We have a 50% chance of winning on Saturday. That's how sport works. 'Prayer is what we need, and I don't say this lightly. We need prayer. 'It will be different in Ireland [in] that the British and Irish Lions assemble while we are over there and the next week, they play a warm-up game. 'I'm glad because the whole of Dublin will be rugby crazy. 'Our young players will experience something unique and special. 'I will work hard for the guys to enjoy it and be ready. People travel the world to hopefully see the underdogs win. That is what happens in sport. 'It is Leinster's first appearance in a final since SA joined the URC. 'For both sides, it is a completely different challenge. 'It doesn't matter that we beat them last year in a knockout game. It is all immaterial. It is now a final. 'It doesn't matter what went before and we proved it tonight (in the semifinal) — we lost twice to the Sharks but won the playoff game. 'We know how tough finals are. We lost a home final when everyone expected us to win and away from home, we won games people expected us to lose. 'The Bulls need our senior guys who have been there and done it to impart their knowledge. 'We have Willie le Roux, who has won a World Cup, so has Marco van Staden and Canan Moodie. 'We also have guys who have played in finals. I want them to talk to each other about what works, and what doesn't.' Leinster skipper Jack Conan said his team would press the reset button after they stormed to victory over the Glasgow Warriors in last week's semifinal. 'We're not getting ahead of ourselves after the win over Glasgow and we know it is going to be a tough task against the Bulls,' he said. 'Even though it was good to beat Glasgow by a big margin, it was disappointing to concede those two tries close to the end and there are lots of things we want to get better at. 'It will all count for nothing if we don't go on and win again and show that level of dominance. 'We always knew we had it in us. It's always nice to prove some people wrong and hopefully we can go again on Saturday and silence a few more critics. 'The history and the iconic nature of that stadium aren't lost on us. We want to do right by that and be at our best again.' The Herald
