It was a night where the Ulster fans said farewell to club stalwarts like Andrew Warwick, Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rea, John Cooney and captain Al O’Connor but there was to be no winning send off as Ulster had to settle for a losing bonus point.
Ulster are three points outside the playoffs with just two fixtures remaining.
Ulster had an early scare when Jack Murphy was charged down in his own 22 but the fly half had enough speed to win the race and touch the ball down over his on try line for a goal line drop out.
Ulster struck after seven minutes as they cut the Sharks defence open.
Jacob Stockdale made a soaring break, carrying deep into the 22 before he cut inside feeding Nathan Doak. The scrum half then offloaded to Cormac Izuchukwu, and the big lock found Jack Murphy on the wing to finish over in the corner.
Ulster breached the visitors defence again two minutes later.
The Sharks were on the attack but the move broke down outside the Ulster 22. Doak hacked the ball clear, Siya Kolisi went down on the ball but Zac Ward won a jackal and passed to a galloping Jude Postlethwaite who raced under the posts, making Murphy’s conversion a formality.
A constant threat from full-back, Stockdale was the catalyst for Ulster’s third try on 30 minutes.
The home side turned the ball over just outside their own 22, Stockdale went from deep using his pace to carry into Sharks territory. The Irish international chipped the last defener and gathered his own kick, before putting Doak under the posts. Murphy added the extras.
The Sharks opened their account on 33 minutes with a try from Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi.
Former Leinster lock Jason Jenkins made a break carrying deep into the Ulster 22, the forwards battered at the line, before the ball was spun wide for the Springbok to go over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Stockdale was then yellow carded for a deliberate knock on in the build up.
Mapimpi crossed again just before half time but the try was ruled out for a forward pass and Ulster went into the break with a 19-5 advantage.
HT: Ulster 19-5 Sharks
The Sharks looked poised to get a second try on 50 minutes but as the pack drove for the line Scott Wilson was able to dislodge the ball and force a knock on.
The Sharks did get a second try on 60 minutes, the away side patiently worked the ball through multiple phases before flanker, Manu Tshituka, burst under the posts with fly-half Jordan Hendrikse converting.
The sides were level on 70 minutes as Sharks replacement, Jurenzo Julius, went over following some good work by the forwards and Hendrikse.
Ulster tried to get another attack going but couldn't get the ball into the areas they needed to be in.
The Durban side then snatched the win after winning a penalty deep in the Ulster 22.
Hendrikse slotted the penalty for the three point lead with only three minutes remaining.
At full-time, Ulster could feel proud of the effort and work rate, but ultimately disappointed not to see out the win against a quality Sharks side.
Richie Murphy's side will face Munster at Thomond Park in Round 17 in two weeks time.
FT: Ulster 19-22 Sharks
Scorers
Ulster
Tries: Jack Murphy, Jude Postlewaite, Nathan Doak
Cons: Jack Murphy x 2
Sharks
Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Manu Tshituka, Jurenzo Julius
Cons: Jordan Hendrikse x 2
Pens: Jordan Hendrikse
Teams
Ulster:
(15-9) J Stockdale; W Kok, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak;
(1-8) A Warwick, R Herring, S Wilson; A O’Connor (capt), C Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, N Timoney, J McNabney.
Replacements:
T Stewart for Herring 70 mins, C Reid for Warwick 61 mins, B O’Connor for Wilson 74 mins, M Dalton for Izuchukwu 74 mins, K Treadwell for O’Connor 70 mins , D Shanahan, A Morgan, D McCann for McNabney 70 mins
Sharks
(15-9) A Fassi; E Hooker, L Am, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; Jo Hendrikse, Ja Hendrikse;
(1-8) O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch; V Tshituka, J Jenkins; J Venter, M Tshituka, S Kolisi (capt)
Replacements:
F Mbatha for Mbonambi 61 mins, N Mchunu for Nche 61 mins, H Jacobs for Koch 41 mins, D Slabbert, P Buthelezi for Venter 61 mins, B Davids for Ja Hendrikse 74 mins, S Masuku, J Julius for Am 52 mins
Ref: B Whitehouse (WRU)