Sharks do derby double over Stormers

by | Feb 1, 2026 | African Golf News

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The Sharks outmuscled the Stormers for a second week in a row with another measured and clinical Vodacom URC performance at Kings Park.

The Sharks ran in five tries to beat the Stormers 36-24 and move up to eighth on the log.

It was also the first time the Sharks had beaten the Stormers twice in a season since 2012 Super Rugby.

The Stormers made a lightning start in Durban, with scrumhalf Cobus Reinach tapping quickly from a penalty and crashing over for the opening try inside the first minute. Captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was unable to add the extras.

As the game settled, it was the Sharks who began to apply pressure. A string of infringements tested referee Christopher Allison’s patience and eventually resulted in flanker Paul de Villiers being shown a yellow card for collapsing a maul.

The hosts struck immediately, scrumhalf Grant Williams sniping over for the Sharks’ first try, with flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse converting to put them in front.

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The lead was short-lived. Feinberg-Mngomezulu restored the Stormers’ advantage with a penalty, before adding a second three-pointer to extend the visitors’ lead in what was becoming a scrappy but entertaining opening quarter.

Centre Ethan Hooker then powered his way over through heavy traffic to swing the momentum back in the Sharks’ favour, Hendrikse again steady from the tee as the contest continued to ebb and flow.

Both sides struggled at lineout time, and as had been the case in Cape Town a week earlier, the Stormers enjoyed repeated entries into the Sharks’ 22 without making them count.

Lock Adre Smith thought he had crossed the line, only for the try to be chalked off for obstruction by prop Neethling Fouche. It proved to be Smith’s final involvement, with coach John Dobson opting to replace him with JD Schickerling in an attempt to stabilise the set-piece.

The Stormers finished the half on the front foot, Feinberg-Mngomezulu showcasing his long-range accuracy with two superb strikes from the tee to send the visitors into the break holding a narrow 17-14 advantage.

The Stormers made a positive start to the second half, with De Villiers rounding off a fine individual effort after gathering a well-weighted Feinberg-Mngomezulu up-and-under. The Stormers captain added the conversion to stretch the visitors’ lead.

Ill-discipline, however, once again proved costly for the Cape side. Lock Ruben van Heerden was shown a yellow card for repeated team infringements, and the Sharks punished them immediately. Captain Andre Esterhuizen strolled over for the hosts’ third try, with Jordan Hendrikse maintaining his flawless record from the tee.

The momentum had firmly swung Durban’s way. Just four minutes later, the Sharks crossed again to secure the bonus point, winger Jaco Williams finishing off out wide for his second try in as many weeks. Hendrikse again added the extras.

The flyhalf’s perfect afternoon with the boot continued as he slotted a penalty 10 minutes from time to push the Sharks out to a seven-point advantage. And to compound the Stormers’ misery, a costly mix-up in their own in-goal area gifted Williams his second of the afternoon, the winger grounding the ball at the feet of replacement fullback Warrick Gelant.

POLL: Should this try have been awarded?

It sealed a commanding win for the Sharks, who proved decisively superior across the two coastal derbies, leaving the Stormers firmly second best on the day.

SHARKS – Tries: Grant Williams, Ethan Hooker, Andre Esterhuizen, Jaco Williams (2). Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4). Penalty: Hendrikse.
STORMERS – Tries: Cobus Reinach, Paul de Villiers. Conversion: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (4).

Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images

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