The Hollywoodbets Sharks secured a hard-fought 36-30 victory over Edinburgh at Kings Park Stadium on Saturday, booking their place in the Challenge Cup semifinals. This win marks their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions, propelling them with confidence as the season enters its final stages.

However, the Sharks faced adversity early on. They trailed 14-16 at halftime and played a portion of the first half without Eben Etzebeth, who received a yellow card. Despite these setbacks, the Sharks rallied, scoring tries through James Venter and Lukhanyo Am during Etzebeth’s mini break.

Warner Kok extended the lead in the second half with a try following a brilliant flick from Aphelele Fassi. Bongi Mbonambi added another try with a powerful dive, putting the Sharks in a seemingly comfortable position at 27-16.

Siya Masuku, despite early struggles with his kicking, grew in confidence throughout the game and added crucial points for the home side. His strong performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

This victory marks the Sharks’ second win over Edinburgh at Kings Park this season, having previously defeated them in the United Rugby Championship. As Etzebeth alluded to before the match, considering the team’s shaky start to the season, reaching the Challenge Cup semifinals is a significant accomplishment.