URC: Sharks into top half of the table with big win over Munster

The victory - hot on the heels of last week's impressive win over Glasgow Warriors - lifts John Plumtree's men into the top half of the table on 15 points.

As for Munster, they suffer a third successive defeat to stay mired in the bottom half.

The Sharks came flying out of the traps and scored two tries inside four minutes through Aphelele Fassi and Makazole Mapimpi, both converted by Jordan Hendrikse.

Hendrikse landed a penalty to extend Sharks' lead to 17-0 before Tom Ahern responded for Munster, with Jack Crowley unable to add the extras.

Sharks grabbed their third try when Grant Williams went in under the posts, leaving Hendrikse a simple kick, with Mike Haley then crossing for Munster's second try, Crowley again missing from the tee.

Andre Esterhuizen secured the bonus point for Sharks with a fourth score before half-time, Hendrikse making no mistake and then knocking over another penalty early in the second half.

After Sharks had James Venter sin-binned, Hendrikse landed his fifth successive conversion when Vincent Tshituka charged down a clearance.

But Munster secured a bonus point by scoring two tries inside the final seven minutes through Calvin Nash and Tadhg Beirne, with Billy Burns converting both.

READ MORE: All Blacks rally after slow start to secure big win against Japan in Yokohama