URC: Sharks end Stormers' winning streak with impressive bonus-point victory

It was a bonus-point victory of particular significance for the visitors, who claimed their first win in Cape Town in five URC attempts and climbed from 14th to 12th on the table.

The result also snapped the Stormers' eight-match winning streak in the competition and could see them surrender top spot later in the evening should Glasgow Warriors overcome Zebre.

Widely regarded as the most impressive result of interim coach JP Pietersen's tenure, the win was underpinned by dominant forward play and composed game management.

Sharks captain Andre Esterhuizen delivered an outstanding all-round performance, while Aphelele Fassi was named Man of the Match.

The Sharks were forced into a late reshuffle before kick-off when hooker Bongi Mbonambi was ruled out injured, with Ethan Bester starting and Eduan Swart added to the bench. Any disruption was short-lived as Ben-Jason Dixon crossed in the fifth minute from a lineout maul.

The Stormers responded when Damian Willemse scored after the Sharks failed to secure the restart, with JD Schickerling and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu involved in the build-up.

However, a Jordan Hendrikse cross-kick finished by Jaco Williams, along with a conversion and penalty, gave the Sharks a 17-5 advantage.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu later took a quick penalty tap to send Willemse over for his second try, while a Stormers lineout maul effort was ruled out for obstruction. The Sharks led 17-12 at the break.

Salmaan Moerat's early second-half yellow card proved costly, with Phepsi Buthelezi scoring from another lineout maul. Hendrikse missed the conversion but added a penalty to stretch the lead to 13 points.

Despite a late penalty try for the Stormers, Andre Esterhuizen's maul try sealed the result. 

READ MORE: England reveal fresh Six Nations squad without veteran Owen Farrell