The Sharks ran in eight tries to thrash Benetton 46-7 in Round 17 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, with Jurenzo Julius claiming a hat-trick and Edwill van der Merwe scoring twice in a commanding home performance.
Benetton's discipline proved costly, with loosehead Bautista Bernasconi sin-binned in the 26th minute for a grasscutter tackle on Vincent Koch. The Sharks immediately capitalised through Siya Kolisi, who crossed off a rolling maul in the 27th minute to make it three unanswered tries.
Worse was to follow for the visitors when Jacob Umaga was initially yellow-carded for a dangerous high tackle on Makazole Mapimpi — a challenge severe enough to force the Springbok winger from the field on a medical cart. The TMO then upgraded Umaga's card to a 20-minute red, and the Sharks struck again before halftime, Van der Merwe finishing wide to claim the bonus-point try.
Andre Esterhuizen, captaining the side, got over the line in the 43rd minute, and Julius added his second and third tries in the 58th and 63rd minutes, the latter a product of a sharp Esterhuizen-Julius combination that split the defence. Smith converted both.
Zekhethelo Siyaya, making his first start at flyhalf in URC rugby, did not convert any of his attempts but was otherwise solid in directing the backline. Bradley Davids slotted one conversion and Smith added two.
Benetton's sole score came through replacement Cristiano Tizzano, converted by Alessandro Garbisi, before replacement Litelihle Bester dotted down after the final siren to complete the rout.
Sharks scorers — Tries: Van der Merwe (2), Julius (3), Kolisi, Esterhuizen, Bester; Cons: Davids, Smith (2) Benetton scorers — Try: Tizzano; Con: Garbisi