With premiership points on the line, each side kept the scoreboard ticking over as the South African-based Sharks raced away to a 36-24 victory.

It might not have been the result the Rebels hoped for, but the match left nothing for fans to complain about in what was a high-octane affair in front of a solid turnout.

A crowd of more than 4000 turned out to watch, much to the delight of Rebels' players who fed off the energy.

"It was great to play here, it really felt like the crowd was behind us," Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty said.

"In those key moments they were vocal and I felt like we were well supported."

Excitement rang from the get-go, with the Sharks finding the whitewash three minutes into the match. But the hosts responded six minutes later after a short pass from Andrew Deegan put Marika Koroibete over the line, after fending off two defenders.

A controversial try to the visitors on the stroke of half-time saw many in the stands voice displeasure as players headed to the sheds with the Rebels trailing 22-10.

The Rebels drew first blood early in the second-half, with Isi Naisarani falling over the line to bring the Rebels within five. They came no closer.

The Sharks piled on two tries in the last 20 minutes before a last-minute intercept from the Rebels made the score closer than it really was.

"I felt like it was a really even tussle," Haylett-Petty said.

"For 90 per cent of the game I felt like it was hard to tell who was on top. We lost some key moments and we paid for it and that's why they won."

The match marked the first time ever a Super Rugby match was played outside a major city.

Rebels coach David Wessels said the club had a great connection with Ballarat.

"Ballarat is where we got our name from, and we feel pretty connected with the story of Ballarat," he said.