Melbourne’s quest for successive Super Rugby wins has fallen frustratingly short, crashing to the Sharks 36-24 in Ballarat.

Playing their first match in country Victoria, the Rebels were looking to back up their impressive breakthrough win over the Waratahs.

They were in the hunt early on before being ultimately outplayed by the Durban-based side, with Springboks winger Makozole Mapimpi scoring two tries among their haul of five.

The period either side of halftime proved crucial, with the Sharks scoring a try in the 39th minute when five-eighth Curwin Bosch through a long cut-out pass that appeared to float more than a metre forward.

South African referee AJ Jacobs didn’t hesitate before awarding the five-pointer to Madosh Tambwe and a successful conversion gave the visitors a 22-10 lead into the break.

Soon after halftime the Sharks found themselves down to 13 men, with hooker Kerron Van Vuuren yellow-carded for a tip tackle on Marika Koroibete.

Four minutes later Tambwe joined him for intentional off-side.

But the Sharks smartly wound down valuable minutes on the clock, making the most of the Rebels’ decision to elect for a scrum.

The Sharks wasted six minutes by repeatedly forcing scrum resets and the Rebels were only able secure one try, scored through Isi Naisarani, despite the big numerical advantage.

The 49th minute conversion brought the margin to five points but that was as close as the Rebels got, as the Sharks kicked away.

Hooker Anaru Rangi crossed in the 78th minute to make the margin more respectable but it was a disappointing afternoon for the home side.