Sharks stunned, injuries pile up in Edinburgh loss

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks’ run in the United Rugby Championship took a massive knock after they only managed to bag two points following their 28-33 loss against Edinburgh on Friday night.

Vincent Tshituka grabbed a last-gasp fourth bonus-point try in the dying seconds of the game, but it was too little too late after an inspirational comeback by Edinburgh in the second half.

To add insult to injury, the Sharks’ walking wounded list increased with serious injuries sustained by Jaden Hendrikse and Siya Masuku.

The visitors had a good start, making a huge statement with the first scrum.

From there, they had a lineout on the 22 and managed to edge closer to the five metre. A beautiful pass to Makazole Maipmpi out wide won them a penalty. They drove once more. The attack ended with Edwill van der Merwe, who went over for the opening score.

Their ball retention and patience were brilliant as they scored within the first six minutes.

Edinburgh finally found their feet, scoring their first try ten minutes later after they got entry into the Sharks’ 22 courtesy of Ewan Ashman. Cammy Scott added the extras.

But the Sharks were dominant in the scrums, and this provided them with valuable front-foot, and with 20 minutes gone, Manu Tshituka added his name to the tryscoring list following a lineout drive.

Unfortunately, Jaden Hendrikse was carried off the field with what looked like a serious injury, but the referee had already awarded a penalty for the Sharks at the breakdown.

But a brilliant 50/22 by Hector Patterson had Edinburgh back in a commanding position.

The Sharks were scrambling to stop the wave after wave of battering by Edinburgh. Scott threw a high pass, caught by Zekhethelo Siyaya and Bradley Davids, replacement for Hendikse, kicked for touch.

The touchfinder was not out, and from there, Edinburgh scored under the posts.

A well-judged kick by Davids as the lock was winding down, sent the Sharks back into the home side’s 22, but in the process, Siya Masuku was helped off the field with what looked like a shoulder injury.

Another kick by Davids saw Mapimpi catch it clean in the air. It was recycled, and the young Siyaya ran hard in midfield following up on his own high kick, but Scott decided it was enough and sent the ball into the stands to end the first half with the score 14-14.

The Sharks introduced Ox Nche and Siya Kolisi at the start of the second half, the Springbok captain celebrating his 50th cap for the Durbanites.

Tough defeat in Scotland.
Time to reflect and work towards the 26/27 season pic.twitter.com/YoDt92B0BL

— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 24, 2026

When the hosts had a lineout five metres out, the visitors were under immense pressure to stop the onslaught.

They had quick ball, Malelili Satala tried to weave through, Pierre Schoeman had a go, and then there was obstruction. Esterhuizen kicked the clearance all the way to the halfway mark.

A brilliant run by Siyaha was overturned when he kicked ahead, and Edinburgh went on the run.

Possession changed hands a few times and when Siyaya was taken out in the air, the Sharks could take a breather.

At the 50-minute mark, two Saffas, Boan Venter and Dylan Richardson, entered the competition for Edinburgh.

The first scrum following that was a battle royale. The Sharks’ front row of Vincent Koch, Nche, and Eduan Swart won the penalty with a massive second shove.

Following the kick, the Sharks went on the hunt in the red zone. It was phase after phase of big men with pick-and-goes, and Koch was the man who spotted the small gap and crashed over.

Barely a minute later, Edinburgh was on the Sharks’ porch following the kick-off.

The home side duly grabbed their third try, refusing to go away as Mosese Tuipulotu showed his twinkle toes down the sideline.

The conversion was missed, giving the Sharks a two-point lead.

The home side was on fire as Ashman stormed down a kick by Davids and Patterson went over to take Edinburgh into the lead, scoring 12 points in mere minutes.

A sensational Edinburgh, completely against the run of play, scored under the posts after the Sharks were attacking from coast to coast. But they had dropped the ball, and the hosts pounced.

Flipping the game on its head, Sean Everitt’s charges were on their way to a vital win.

With four minutes left, the Sharks worked hard to gain ascendancy, but they looked laboured. And every time, Edinburgh managed to turn over possession.

Vincent Tshituka grabbed their fourth try in the dying seconds, but it wasn’t enough to change their standing in the log

Player of the Match: Ewan Ashman was ferocious. At hooker and later at the side of the pack as flank. He set up a try, made turn-overs, and tackled like a demon.

Scorers:

For Edinburgh:
Tries: Ashman, Young, Tuipulotu, Patterson, Graham
Cons: Scott 2, Thompson 2

For Sharks:
Tries: Van der Merwe, M Tshituka, Koch, V Tshituka
Cons: Smith 4

Teams:

Edinburgh: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mosese Tuipulotu, 12 Findlay Thomson, 11 Malelili Satala, 10 Cammy Scott, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Tom Currie, 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Glen Young, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Jack Brown.

Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 12 Siya Masuku, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Siya Kolisi, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Marnus Potgieter.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Rob McDowell (Scotland), Jonny MacKenzie (Scotland)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)