The rather drawn out Hollywoodbets Sharks complaints about the uncontested scrums that may have cost them their previous match were rendered moot when Edinburgh turned on the burners to score three quick tries to clinch them their 33-28 win at The Hive on Friday night.
The Sharks led 21-14 just beyond the hour mark but Edinburgh, who’d done most of the attacking in the third quarter without reward, suddenly got their attacking mojo together as they scored three tries in the next eight minutes to effectively kill off any chances of the Sharks remaining in the challenge for a Vodacom URC top eight finish.
Back-to-back #VURC victories for Edinburgh ✅✅#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/LcIC04WbPK
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 24, 2026
They did grab two bonus points by scoring a late try of their own but they needed a lot more than that in order to give their final matches at home against the two Italian sides any kind of relevance beyond playing for pride.
At least the result of the game should put an end to the complaints that continued to come out of the Sharks with reference to the previous week’s loss to the Ospreys.
There was plenty of justification for the Sharks to be unhappy at what happened in Bridgend, with the uncontested scrum debate being accompanied by the Ethan Hooker injury that came courtesy of what looked like a reckless late challenge from the Ospreys wing.
But when the Sharks owner Marco Massotti carried on the argument into Friday evening by asking on social media if perhaps the Ospreys should be subjected to a lie detector test it came across as taking it a bit too far, even if it was meant tongue in cheek.
Given they only picked up two points from this game, the result of the Bridgend game wouldn’t have made any quantum difference to the Sharks’ chances of making the top eight, so maybe it is time for the Sharks to move on from what happened last week.
STARTED IMPRESSIVELY
They did look like they were tracking towards a full house of five log points for much of the game in Edinburgh, with the Durbanites coming strongly out of the blocks as a powerful and patient buildup and a long pass towards where the space was put Sharks wing Edwill van der Merwe in for his team’s first try and a 7-0 lead after six minutes.
Edwill van der Merwe gives the Hollywoodbets Sharks the perfect start 🦈🔥
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 24, 2026
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw #SSRugby pic.twitter.com/qdrcmIQGUc
There was a later driving maul try to Phepsi Buthelezi to answer a try dotted down by Edinburgh’s excellent ball carrying hooker Ewan Ashman, who ended with the official man of the match award.
However, in the last 15 minutes of the half it did look like Edinburgh were starting to get the upper hand even though they were coming second in the scrum battle and looked vulnerable whenever the Sharks got close enough to the line to drive at them.
INJURY JINX STRUCK SHARKS AGAIN
There was some good defence from the Sharks, with Jaden Hendrikse the highlight from a defensive viewpoint when he got under an Edinburgh ball carrier to prevent a certain try.
Unfortunately not long after that Hendrikse was badly concussed and stretchered from the field, with the lengthy Sharks injury list being further added to when Siya Masuku, playing inside centre in this game, limped off.
Edinburgh looked like they were getting the bit between their teeth when Grant Gilchrist surged through a gap and put the unmarked flanker Glen Young in for the try six minutes before halftime.
The game was deadlocked at 14-all at the break but Edinburgh definitely ended the half stronger and also started the next half stronger only for some poor finishing and excellent Sharks defence to keep them out.
When Vincent Koch dotted down after 57 minutes after a driving maul had been halted but the attack continued with one off runners, with skipper Andre Esterhuizen taking the ball up and the forwards buzzing around him, it looked like the Sharks had weathered the storm and might get home with the win.
But then came those three quick-fire tries that completely transformed the game, with a 21-14 Sharks lead being turned in the space of eight minutes into a 33-21 lead for Edinburgh, with wing Mosese Tuipoluto putting a strong run down the left touchline for the first of the tries, then scrumhalf Hector Patterson was put into space out wide after his opposite number Bradley Davids had had a kick charged down.
When the gap is found, it's taken full advantage of 💥@Vodacom #URC #KidsRound | #EDIvSHA pic.twitter.com/NXR4XKYylX
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 24, 2026
Then came a superb counter-attacking try in which Darcy Graham set it up with a little dink over the top running down the right touchline from inside his own half and he was up to take the pass when the ball was gathered and go over to score between the posts.
That was game, set and match, with Vincent Tshituka’s last-gasp try being no more than a consolation effort as the game was over as a proper contest by then.
Scores
Edinburgh 33 - Tries: Ewan Ashman, Glen Young, Mosese Tuipoluto, Hector Patterson and Darcy Graham; Conversions: Cammy Scott 2 and and Ross Thompson 2.
Hollywoodbets Sharks 28 - Tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent Koch and Vincent Tshituka; Conversions: Jean Smith 4.