In a thrilling encounter at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, the Sharks staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Ulster 22-19, leaving the hosts with a bitter taste of what could have been. The match, played on Saturday, April 26, 2025, showcased a game of two halves, as Ulster surged to a commanding 19-0 lead before the visitors rallied back with 22 unanswered points.
Ulster got off to a flying start, scoring three tries in the opening 30 minutes. Fly-half Jack Murphy opened the scoring just six minutes into the match, racing through the Sharks’ defense after a brilliant setup from Jacob Stockdale and Cormac Izuchukwu. Although Murphy missed the subsequent conversion, Ulster led 5-0 early on.
Moments later, Jude Postlethwaite extended the lead to 12-0, capitalizing on a loose ball that was hacked downfield by Nathan Doak. The momentum continued to swing Ulster's way when Doak himself crossed the line in the 31st minute, receiving a well-timed inside pass from Stockdale after collecting his own chip. Murphy converted the try, pushing Ulster ahead 19-0.
However, the tide began to turn when South African international Makazole Mapimpi scored the Sharks' first try in the 34th minute, reducing Ulster's lead to 19-5. This moment marked a significant shift in the game, as Ulster's Stockdale received a yellow card shortly after for an attempted intercept, leaving his team at a disadvantage.
As the second half unfolded, the Sharks capitalized on their numerical advantage. The visitors began to dominate the game, and after a period of sustained pressure, Emmanuel Tshituka scored a try near the posts in the 60th minute, with Jordan Hendrikse converting to cut Ulster's lead to 19-12.
The Sharks continued to apply pressure, and their persistence paid off in the 69th minute when Jurenzo Julius weaved through a tiring Ulster defense to score, leveling the match at 19-19 after Hendrikse added the extras.
With the momentum firmly in the Sharks' favor, it was only a matter of time before they took the lead. In a dramatic finish, Hendrikse slotted a penalty in the 77th minute, sealing the victory for the Sharks and marking them as the first South African team to win at Kingspan Stadium in the United Rugby Championship.
Following the match, Ulster full-back Jacob Stockdale reflected on the disappointment of letting such a commanding lead slip away. “The first half hour we were cooking and it felt great,” Stockdale told BBC Sport NI. “We let them back into the game a bit too much and let them play their power game. In fairness to them, they took their chances really well.”
Stockdale, who was named player of the match despite his yellow card, expressed his frustration over the loss, particularly as it was the final home match for eight players who will be leaving the province at the end of the season. “It’s a disappointing one and I suppose that’s representative of the season we’ve had, where there’s a lot of really promising stuff but we haven’t quite been able to get across the line,” he said. “We’ve still got a couple of games left to squeeze into the play-offs. I think we still can, so our focus has to shift to that now.”
Ulster currently sits in 12th position in the United Rugby Championship, just three points off the playoff spots. With two matches remaining, they will need to secure victories against Munster and Edinburgh to have any hope of qualifying for the knockout stages. The loss against the Sharks leaves them with a daunting task ahead, as they face two challenging opponents who are also vying for playoff positions.
As the Sharks celebrate their hard-fought victory, questions remain about their consistency. Despite their impressive comeback, the Sharks have struggled with performance issues throughout the season. Coach John Plumtree will be looking for more from his star-studded lineup as they aim to solidify their playoff position and make a deeper run in the tournament.
In the aftermath of the match, Ulster's captain Alan O'Connor, one of the players departing at season's end, received praise from Stockdale. “He’s one of the best leaders who has ever graced Ulster’s Ravenhill home,” Stockdale said. “He’s an incredibly humble fella and he brings the best version of himself every single day into Ulster.”
The defeat is a bitter pill for Ulster to swallow, especially considering the promising start they had. As they prepare for their upcoming matches, the team will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to achieve their playoff ambitions. With their fate hanging in the balance, Ulster's players will need to dig deep and find the resolve to overcome their recent setbacks.
As the United Rugby Championship approaches its climax, the stakes have never been higher for both Ulster and the Sharks. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Ulster can bounce back and make a late charge for the playoffs, while the Sharks will aim to build on their momentum and secure their place in the postseason.
With the excitement of the URC playoffs looming, every match will count, and both teams will be looking to make their mark as the season draws to a close.
