The Sharks ran in eight tries to dismantle Benetton 46-7 in Round 17 of the URC at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, with Jurenzo Julius scoring a hat-trick and Edwill van der Merwe adding a brace in a performance built on dominant scrum work.
Zekhethelo Siyaya started at flyhalf — his first appearance in that role in the URC — and despite missing all his conversion attempts, produced a composed enough display to justify the selection.
Van der Merwe opened the scoring in the 11th minute off a Jaco Williams offload, before Julius demonstrated raw power to break through four defenders from 10 metres to score in the 22nd minute. The visitors were then reduced to 14 men when Bautista Bernasconi was sinbinned for a grasscutter tackle on Vincent Koch, and the Sharks capitalised when Siya Kolisi crashed over off a rolling maul in the 27th minute.
Benetton's afternoon turned considerably darker just as Bernasconi returned. Jacob Umaga was sent to the sinbin for a dangerous high tackle on Makazole Mapimpi, who was forced from the field on a medical cart. A subsequent TMO review upgraded Umaga's yellow card to a 20-minute red, leaving Benetton down to 13 men. The Sharks took full advantage with Van der Merwe finishing wide for his brace and the bonus-point try in the final seconds of the first half.
Andre Esterhuizen — captaining the side — beat three defenders to score the fifth try in the 43rd minute, with Bradley Davids converting to make it 27-0. Julius then completed his hat-trick in two further strikes: first finishing off a well-timed pass from Esterhuizen in the 58th minute, then benefiting from a sharp centre combination with Esterhuizen moments later. Jean Smith converted both to push the score to 41-0.
Cristiano Tizzano provided Benetton's only response, converting a consolation try with Alessandro Garbisi adding the extras, before replacement Litelihle Bester crossed after the final siren to complete the rout.
Mapimpi's injury via the Umaga tackle was the one significant concern for the Sharks, with the winger unable to continue after the incident.