SA Triad Hold Firm in Top Five After High-Octane Vodacom URC Round 4

Round 4 was characterised by high drama, high-scoring shootouts, and an unmistakable youth movement as Under-21 stars took centre stage across the championship. While the Durbanites secured a professional away triumph in Wales and the Bulls and Stormers defended home turf, the 10bet Lions suffered a heavy defeat in Scotland, falling out of the playoff places on a testing weekend.

Vodacom URC Round 4 Results

• Cardiff Rugby 21 – 36 Hollywoodbets Sharks

• Edinburgh Rugby 31 – 10 10bet Lions

• Connacht Rugby 48 – 27 Zebre Parma

• Vodacom Bulls 34 – 26 Ulster Rugby

• DHL Stormers 52 – 40 Scarlets

• Benetton Rugby 20 – 24 Glasgow Warriors

• Leinster Rugby 24 – 18 Munster Rugby

• Ospreys 31 – 14 Dragons RFC

South African Match Recaps

Sharks Show Their Bite in Cardiff

The Hollywoodbets Sharks built on their fine European form with a six-try, 36–21 bonus-point victory over Cardiff at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday night.

Ethan Hooker broke the deadlock inside three minutes, finishing off a slick pop pass. Cardiff snatched a brief 7–5 lead, but Durban seized control before the break with tries from Matt Romao and a powerful pick-and-go from Jason Jenkins for a 17–7 halftime cushion.

Cardiff fought back bravely when James Botham crossed twice within 13 minutes to edge the hosts into a two-point advantage. However, the Sharks responded with clinical precision in the final quarter: Thomas du Toit, Ethan Bester, and Romao (grabbing his brace) dotted down to lock up maximum match points.

• Cardiff 21 (7) – Tries: Josh Adams, James Botham (2). Conversions: Jarrod Evans (3).

• Hollywoodbets Sharks 36 (17) – Tries: Ethan Hooker, Matt Romao (2), Jason Jenkins, Thomas du Toit, Ethan Bester. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (3).

Lions Outmuscled by Unbeaten Edinburgh

Still reeling from the heartbreaking loss of teammate Hyron Andrews, the 10bet Lions ran out of steam in second-half downpours at Hive Stadium, falling 31–10 to log-leaders Edinburgh.

The contest was finely poised at the interval, with Edinburgh leading just 5–3 courtesy of a well-executed backline try against a solitary Chris Smith penalty.

The second 40 minutes, however, belonged entirely to the Scottish outfit. Dominating the collision and exploiting defensive lapses out wide, Edinburgh crossed for four further tries. Batho Hlekani managed a late consolation try for Johannesburg, but the defeat leaves the Lions searching for answers after two demanding road weeks.

• Edinburgh 31 (5) – Tries: Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Hector Patterson (2), Geordie Gwynn. Conversions: James Grayson (2), Cammy Scott.

• 10bet Lions 10 (3) – Try: Batho Hlekani. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalty goal: Smith.

Bulls Withstand Ulster Fightback at Loftus

The Vodacom Bulls displayed immense defensive character in Pretoria, staving off a furious Ulster comeback to claim a 34–26 bonus-point win.

Marcell Coetzee led from the front with an early rolling-maul try before Elrigh Louw crashed over to make it 14–0. Coetzee added his second from close range, giving the Bulls a commanding 21–0 cushion before Ulster pulled one back just before the break.

Ulster turned the screws in the second period, crossing early while Coetzee sat in the sin-bin for a high tackle. Despite a Handré Pollard penalty steadying the ship, Ulster crossed again to make it a five-point game at 24–19. Hooked Johan Grobbelaar provided the decisive response by powering through two tacklers for the bonus-point try. Although Ulster struck in the 69th minute to cut the deficit to 31–26, Curwin Bosch nailed a penalty on the final hooter to seal the win.

Scrumhalf Paul de Wet was named Fan Vote Man of the Match for his dynamic delivery and tactical kicking that directed the Bulls' victory.

• Vodacom Bulls 34 (21) – Tries: Marcell Coetzee (2), Elrigh Louw, Johan Grobbelaar. Conversions: Handre Pollard (4). Penalty goals: Pollard, Curwin Bosch.

• Ulster 26 (7) – Tries: Chay Mullins (2), Dave McCann, Stuart McCloskey. Conversions: Jack Murphy (3).

Stormers Edge Scarlets in 14-Try Shootout

In one of the wildest fixtures of the season, the DHL Stormers outlasted Scarlets 52–40 in an extraordinary 92-point spectacle at DHL Stadium.

The hosts were ruthless in the opening period, crossing through Zachary Porthen, Haashim Pead, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Seabelo Senatla, and Deon Fourie to hold a commanding 33–14 halftime lead.

Scarlets staged an inspired fightback in the second half, punishing defensive slips with four tries, headlined by a hat-trick from Joe Roberts, to draw level at 40–40 by the 65th minute. With the game on a knife-edge, Junior Springbok flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed stepped up, crossing twice in the final 10 minutes alongside a try from Oliver Reid to carry the Stormers over the finish line.

Stormers scrumhalf Haashim Pead earned Fan Vote Man of the Match honours following an electric showing.

• DHL Stormers 52 (33) – Tries: Zachary Porthen, Haashim Pead, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Seabelo Senatla, Deon Fourie, Oliver Reid, Yaqeen Ahmed (2). Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (6).

• Scarlets 40 (14) – Tries: Joe Roberts (3), Ioan Jones, Macs Page, Josh Macleod. Conversions: Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (5).

Standings After Round 4

With four rounds in the books and 14 to go, Edinburgh set the pace as the only unbeaten franchise. The South African trio remain firmly entrenched in the playoff hunt, while the Lions will look to regroup back home in Round 5.

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