Coach John Plumtree says the Sharks have a “lot of work to do” if they are to win a maiden Vodacom URC title.

Having pipped Edinburgh 18-17 at Hive Stadium last weekend, the Sharks secured another valuable comeback victory against Ulster in Belfast on Saturday night.

As a result, they remain fourth on the URC log, seven points ahead of Cardiff (who beat Munster) and five behind the Vodacom Bulls (who beat Glasgow).

The visitors suffered a big blow when captain Eben Etzebeth was ruled out of the match with flu, and then fell 19-0 behind after 31 minutes.

But a yellow card to Ulster winger Jaco Stockdale helped the visitors get back into the game, with Sharks winger Makazole Mapimpi scoring in the corner shortly after.

Mapimpi seemed to grab another just before the break only for it to be ruled out for a marginal forward pass.

After a scoreless third quarter dominated by the visitors, replacements Emmanuel Tshituka and Jurenzo Julius dotted down for the Sharks.

Flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse kicked both conversions to make it 19-19, before slotting a 78-minute penalty from in front of the posts to clinch a 21-19 win.

“Pretty much a game of two halves,” Plumtree said. “In the first half an hour, there were too many errors, some defensive lapses and we didn’t build enough pressure.

“We were chasing the game from earlier on but 10 minutes before half time, we started playing some better footy. We were a bit unlucky not to go into the break 19-10 [down], because of the TMO decision, which I thought was pretty rough.”

Plumtree was much happier with his side’s second-half performance.

“We dominated the gain line, the boys’ confidence came back up and we scored. Then we thought we could get the game if we got the right amount of territory and possession.

“It was another great test for us in terms of our ability to hang in the fight, stay in contention for a win and then close it out.

“Some real positives around our willingness to win close games, but we’ve got a lot of work to do if we want to win this championship and that’s what we will endeavour to do when we get back home.”

The Sharks finish their league-stage campaign with matches against two Welsh clubs, the Ospreys (9 May) and Scarlets (17 May), at Kings Park.

Photo: Tyler Miller/Getty Images