The Sharks scored three tries in a 21-12 win against the Stormers XV in their final United Rugby Championship (URC) pre-season friendly in Gqeberha on Friday.

The two teams had a final pre-season hit-out on the Kolisi Field at Grey High, with the Durban outfit finishing on top.

The Stormers were under defensive pressure early as first Junior Pokomela and then Suleiman Hartenberg were shown early yellow cards.

Despite playing for 20 minutes with just 14 men, they defended manfully to hold the Sharks out.

The Durban side eventually scored from a counter-attack sparked in their own half and finished off by Curwin Bosch, but the scores were level soon afterwards as the Stormers forwards made great use of their first attacking opportunity in the 22 with a penalty try awarded from a dominant maul.

The Sharks forced their way over for a second try on the stroke of half-time to take a seven-point lead into the break.

Stormers XV hit back straight after half-time with a try from Pokomela in the corner from a maul, but the Sharks responded with a try from wing Thaakir Abrahams to make it 21-12.

Scorers:

Stormers XV

Tries: Penalty try, Pokomela

Sharks

Tries: Bosch, Mchunu, Abrahams

Conversions: Bosch (2), Chamberlain