The Stormers ended the Sharks’ winning start to the URC with a bonus-point victory in the Round 3 coastal derby in Cape Town on Saturday, 10 October. Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was named Player of the Match.
The Stormers Take Control
The home side were a constant threat with ball in hand, mixing quick hands with clever kicking to keep the Sharks guessing. Their lineout also improved a lot after the loss to Edinburgh the week before. The Sharks struggled in defence, and their scrum initially found no purchase.
The win lifts the Stormers to fourth on the URC log, according to the competition’s website.
First Half: Mauls, Yellow Cards and a Disallowed Try
- Seabelo Senatla opened the scoring with a try from a wide move.
- The Sharks gave away a penalty soon after, then hit back when Manu Tshituka powered over from a maul.
- Senatla thought he had a second after kicking ahead and dotting down himself, but the TMO ruled that his foot had been in touch.
- The Sharks’ best chance came at 26 minutes, when Zekhethelo Siyaya fielded a hoist well but lost the ball trying to chip through the defensive line.
- Replacement fullback Gianni Lombard kicked a long penalty to level at 8-8 after the half-hour.
- Matt Romao was then sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Jonathan Roche, and the Stormers punished the Sharks with a Hacjivah Dayimani try from a lineout maul.
- Tshituka was yellow-carded as well, and André-Hugo Venter scored from another maul.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion made it 22-8 at the break.
Second Half: A Sharks Rally Falls Short
Leolin Zas scored two minutes after the restart, and Ethan Hooker then made a crucial tackle to stop Senatla scoring from a kick. Dayimani got his second when the Stormers rolled their pack over the line, and with a 26-point lead and more than half an hour left, the game looked settled.
The Sharks fought back. Romao redeemed himself with a try mauled over from a lineout, and Lombard converted. After a poor Cobus Reinach kick and a penalty against the Stormers, Phepsi Buthelezi crossed to make it 22-34. Hooker was outstanding during the Sharks’ spell of momentum, and Haashim Pead made his Stormers debut off the bench.
The Stormers answered when JJ Kotze scored from another driving maul. The Sharks chased a bonus point but were never able to get one, and the Stormers were too strong in attack and defence.
Injury Concerns for the Sharks
The Sharks also lost Eben Etzebeth and Vusi Moyo, who both left the field early. Their fitness will matter for the next round.
How would you rate the Stormers’ performance? Tell us in the comments.
