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Youth-infused Sharks finish with another eight-try rout

rugby16 May 2026 13:59| © SuperSport
By:Gavin Rich
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There was nothing to play for in the final two Vodacom URC games and it is tiresome to keep pedaling the cliché about playing for pride so we can thank Hollywoodbets Sharks coach JP Pietersen for the narrative that added interest to his team’s 54-19 win over Zebre in their season finale.

The narrative of youthful infusion bringing a glimmer of hope was set in the 46-7 win over Benetton last week in which several youngsters starred and was continued against the lesser of the two Italian teams in an energetic performance that again saw the hosts score eight tries as they romped to a comfortable victory in the early afternoon sunshine at Hollwoodbets Kings Park.

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While last week it was 18-year-old Zekhethelu Siyaya who made a solid fist of his first appearance in the game driving position of flyhalf, this time it was last year’s Junior Bok Under-20 World Cup-winner Vusi Moyo who pulled the strings impressively.

He scored a debut try and was also on target with most of his conversion attempts but most of all it was the controlled way he directed play that caught the eye.

Like Siyaya, who was back in the fullback position he played in in his first two games for the Sharks and scored a try in another bright performance, he’s not afraid to take the ball flat and engage defenders, as shown when he forced his way over from short range for his second-half try.

He also showed off his capable field kicking game and generally should be happy with his first feel of big time rugby.

The other youngsters recently introduced like wing Lihlehile Bester and Jaco Williams also impressed, with Williams being up to score in the corner off an attack initiated by the ever present and ever influential captain and inside centre Andre Esterhuizen and carried on by a player who is a veteran in comparison to some of the newcomers but is also really young, Nick Hatton.

SIYA SAYS GOODBYE IN STYLE WITH A BRACE OF TRIES

Hatton is often an alternative leader for the Sharks, and another over the past few seasons was Siya Kolisi, with the Springbok captain playing as a foot soldier in this game but celebrating his final game in Sharks colours before his off-season return to the Stormers in style by crossing for a brace of first-half tries.

His presence, along with that of other experienced Boks like Esterhuizen, Ox Nche and Vincent Koch would have helped the younger players settle in a team that boasted an average age of less than 24.

That suggests this game was very much an advertisement for what Sharks fans can look forward to if the recruitment department manage to retain the talent that has thrived in this clutch of late season dead rubber games.

FLAT TO START WITH BUT THEN THEY GOT GOING

The Sharks started off a bit flat but once they got into the game they started firing their shots, and while a good try from the pacy and impressive wing Simone Gesi gave the visitors a brief lead halfway through the first half, there was never really any doubt that the Sharks would come out on top against their outgunned opponents who’d made 11 changes to the side that lost to the Vodacom Bulls in their penultimate match.

Kolisi can thank a deft touch from Bok teammate Nche and some clever planning from lineout coach Warren Whiteley for his first try, which came courtesy of an unexpected short throw to Nche that opened the gap that Kolisi surged through to regain his team a lead they were never to relinquish.

Then came a great jinking run from Siyaya in the 29th minute to net him his first URC try at Kings Park in Sharks colours, while on the stroke of halftime, after setting up an attacking lineout from the penalty that came with a yellow card for Zebre captain Allessandro Fuca, another good Sharks lineout saw Kolisi drive over off another good take from the excellent Emile van Heerden.

The Sharks dominated the lineouts, stealing three first half balls against the throw, and the Kolisi try was the fourth and bonus point try - not that log points mattered for the Sharks as they complete yet another season where they fail to make the URC knockouts.

SCORES

Hollywoodbets Sharks 54 - Tries: Jaco Williams, Siya Kolisi 2, Zekhethelu Siyaya, Vusi Moyo, Immanuel Tshituka, Le Roux Malan and Ross Braude; Conversions: Vusi Moyo 5 and Jean Smith 2.

Zebre 19 - Tries: Simone Gesi 2 and Giovanni Quattrini; Conversions: Giovanni Montemauri 2.

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