Your Sharks ended a difficult season on a high and secured Investec Champions Cup rugby for next season with a bonus point win against Bristol Bears.
A brace of Arron Reed tries and scores from George Ford, Ben Bamber, Joe Carpenter and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White saw Alex Sanderson’s men over the line.
The result meant Sharks finished the Gallagher PREM season in seventh, one place behind the visitors, who missed out on a top four finish.
On an emotional day as the Sharks Family said goodbye to players including Dan and Rob du Preez, Raffi Quirke and James Harper, Sharks were fast out of the blocks and after Bristol spilled the kick-off, Nathan Jibulu and Ma’asi-White carried hard to set up Ford for the first try.
The England fly-half converted his own score to make it seven-nil and that became 14-0 minutes later as Ben Bamber dived over in the corner after being set up by Quirke.
With less than 20 minutes on the clock it was 21-0. After a powerful break from Jibulu, Quirke sniped down the blindside and kicked through for Reed to dot down for his first.
Sharks were rampant and they extended their lead on 24 minutes when full-back Carpenter dodged the cover tackles and dived over in the left corner.
With a big score on the cards and Sharks in the ascendancy, a young side Bristol side were under pressure, but with 26 minutes gone they earned their first points when winger Noah Heward powered through a gap to dive over.
And with half-time approaching the gap was closed again when hooker Tomas Gwilliam powered over from the back of a maul.
The second half began as the first, with Sharks scoring early. This time it was Ma’asi-White’s turn to cross in the right corner. Ford converted again to make it 33-12.
Bears enjoyed more possession in the second half but the next points went to Reed. Minutes after the Scotland winger was held up after a weaving run to the line, he got on the end of a Tom Roebuck pass to dive over in the right corner.
Sam Worsley scored a late consolation for the Bears but Sharks held on to secure a 38-17 win and send the Sharks Family off into the summer break with a win to celebrate.
But not before the fans had a chance to say goodbye to departing Sharks including Hall of Famer Rob du Preez, Dan du Preez, Raffi Quirke and James Harper.
