Ulster beat Sharks to continue winning URC start

Ulster maintain their 100% record in the United Rugby Championship with an impressive bonus-point win over the Sharks in an incident-packed game in Durban.

Ulster players celebrate a try
Ulster made it three wins from three this season [Getty Images]

United Rugby Championship

Sharks (5) 26

Tries: Kolisi, Mapimpi, penalty try, Esterhuizen Cons: Masuku, Jordan Hendrikse

Ulster (20) 34

Tries: Lowry, Kok, Stewart, Reid Cons: Doak 4 Pens: Doak 2

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

Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, Tom Stewart and Callum Reid scored for the visitors, who backed up their wins over the Dragons and Bulls with a confidence-boosting result on South African soil.

Eleven points from Nathan Doak's boot also proved decisive for Richie Murphy's side.

Despite welcoming five Springboks back into their line-up, the Sharks paid the price for a sluggish and ill-disciplined display, although they picked up a bonus point as Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi and Andre Esterhuizen all crossed in addition to a penalty try.

Ulster end their South African tour against the Lions in Johannesburg on 25 October (12:45 BST) before the autumn break.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Sharks: E van der Merwe; E Hooker, J Julius, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; S Masuku, G Williams; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch, E Etzebeth, M Orie, S Kolisi, V Tshituka (capt), P Buthelezi.

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

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, J Augustus.

Replacements: R Herring, C Reid, T O'Toole, J Hopes, S Reffell, C McKee, J Flannery, J Postlethwaite.

Sin-bin: O'Toole (62)

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Category: General Sports