The Cell C Sharks turned a 23-12 half-time deficit into a 33-30 victory at Cape Town Stadium, mainly thanks to three tries by Reniel Hugo (lock) and two red cards to the DHL Stormers.
In Pretoria, the Vodacom Bulls only managed to put some daylight between them and the Emirates Lions late in the match, as they clinched their first round encounter by 24-9, keeping their neighbours from Johannesburg try-less.