Cardiff went down to a rare home defeat in a compelling contest where the lead changed hands on a number of occasions.

The hosts scored three tries, with flanker James Botham claiming a brace after winger Josh Adams had crossed early on in this URC clash.

Botham’s second put them in front approaching the hour mark, but the star-studded Sharks struck three times in the final quarter to seal a bonus point win.

It was Cardiff’s first defeat at the Arms Park since they lost to the Scarlets in December of last year.

Faced with a five day turnaround from last Sunday’s Champions Cup clash with Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens, they had made 11 changes.

There was a rapid return for 76-cap prop Scott Sio just three weeks after he suffered a facial fracture, while hooker Liam Belcher, lock Teddy Williams, wing Adams and back row trio Alex Mann, Taine Basham and Botham came into the starting line-up following their inclusion in the Wales squad for the Nations Championship.

When the game got underway in front of a crowd of 8,076, the Sharks suffered an immediate blow when their skipper Andre Esterhuizen hobbled off after being hurt in the first play.

But it didn’t faze the visitors with Esterhuizen’s fellow centre Jurenzo Julius delivering a one-handed offload to send wing Ethan Hooker over just a minute later.

Cardiff gathered themselves after that early setback and responded with a score which would have meant a great deal to centre Le Roux Malan.

Playing against his former team, the Namibian centre hit the line at pace, broke a tackle and managed to keep his feet before feeding Cam Winnett who sent Adams racing in at the corner.

Jarrod Evans added the conversion from wide out to put the hosts in front.

It looked as though the Sharks had regained the lead when mounting pressure culminated in lively full-back Zekhethelo Siyaya crossing, only for the score to be ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up.

But the visitors were not to be denied for long as flanker Matt Romao burst through off a close range ruck for the first of his two tries.

Just before the break, Cardiff were forced into reshuffle with Winnett going off to be replaced by Tom Bowen who went to the wing with Adams moving to full-back.

Then in the final play, the South Africans extended their lead when second row Jason Jenkins forced his way over following a rumble off an attacking lineout.

That put them 17-7 up at the end of a half in which they had monopolised possession and territory.

With the wind now in their favour on the resumption, Cardiff immediately went on the offensive and came tantalisingly close to scoring when replacement loosehead Danny Southworth just lost the ball as he dived in at the corner.

But the referee was playing advantage and from the resulting tap penalty openside Botham smuggled his way over with Evans adding the conversion.

Then just before the hour mark, the industrious Botham claimed his second as he broke away from a lineout maul and surged across the whitewash.

That was followed by a fracas on the touchline with a number of players getting involved but after watching a replay of the incident referee Andrea Piardi gave Jarrod Evans the clear to take the conversion.

The fly-half then produced a gem of a banana kick as he judged the wind perfectly to bisect the posts.

But the lead soon changed hands again as replacement prop Thomas du Toit got the ball down after a spell of sustained pressure.

The Sharks then sealed their win six minutes from time when another front row sub, hooker Ethan Bester, went over following a lineout drive and Romao had the final word as he completed his double.