The Hollywoodbets Sharks closed out their 2025/26 Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign on a high following an emphatic 54-19 victory over Zebre at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
Perfect conditions and a dominant performance offered the platform from which to deliver a fitting farewell to the departing players, including Bok captain Siya Kolisi who scored a brace of tries in his final match in the Black & White jersey.
It was a bittersweet conclusion to the season, the joy of a scoring a massive victory tempered by the need to say goodbye to a group of players who now depart the franchise.
Captain Andre Esterhuizen’s direct run at the defence gave his side the momentum to score the opening try of the match after a testy opening quarter hour, Nick Hatton making the final pass under pressure to Jaco Williams who managed to dot down in the corner carrying two defenders with him.
Five minutes later, Zebre crafted a try of their own, having gained some good reward on the ground they turned defence into attack following a ball steal and then making metres outside to score a converted try that gave them a 7-5 lead at the start of the second quarter.
An earlier 60m solo effort from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was cut short, but there was no stopping him in the 25th minute when an attacking lineout in Zebre’s 22 was sent short to Ox Nche in a set move and Kolisi came around the corner at pace, received the perfect pop pass and was over, with debutant Vusi Moyo adding the extras for a 12-7 lead.
It took less than five minutes to bring up the third try, real champagne rugby from the Hollywoodbets Sharks as they showed patience, accuracy and creativity in keeping the ball alive before Zekhethelo Siyaya danced his way through the defence before opening the afterburners to outstrip the defence to score, with Moyo adding two for a 19-7 lead.
With the half-time whistle approaching, Zebre lost their captain and scrumhalf for repeatedly being penalised for off-sides and finding themselves a man down, they conceded the fourth try, Kolisi scoring his second off a marching driving maul, Moyo added the two and the Hollywoodbets Sharks led 26-7 at the break after an entertaining first half.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks wasted little time in looking to continue their try-scoring exploits from the first half with a debut try for Vusi Moyo following a series of forward-oriented pick and drives, before the ball was sent along the line with the flyhalf finding the gap to penetrate, before converting for a 33-7 lead.
Five minutes later, try number six was scored, the forwards again heavily involved, showing patience with a series of close quarter drives, before Manu Tshituka managed to muscle over, with Moyo adding the conversion for a 40-7 lead in the 55th minute.
Zebre added their second try in the 62nd minute, the bounce of the ball kind to the chaser, the conversion cutting the lead to 26 points.
Their joy was short-lived as a strong midfield break from Andre Esterhuizen set up try number seven as the captain unselfishly fed Le Roux Malan, who scored under the posts, handing replacement flyhalf Jean Smith a regulation conversion in front of the posts.
A couple of minutes later, Esterhuizen had another trademark bulldozing run before feeding replacement scrumhalf Ross Braude in support, with Smith converting as the Hollywoodbets Sharks hit a half century of points with a little over 10 minutes remaining.
Zebre’s 75th minute try off a driving maul following an attacking lineout was scant reward for their limited efforts, but offered a glimpse of their fighting spirit.
But the day belonged to the Hollywoodbets Sharks who showed enough in this match to offer great promise of what’s to come in the future.