By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Stormers finished strong to secure a 33-14 win over Scottish outfit Edinburgh in a United Rugby Championship (URC) clash at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.
The win cements the Stormers’ second place on the log as they prepare to travel to France to face Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup last 16.
The Stormers started the game strongly but a slip in deep field by newly-minted right wing Damian Willemse gave Edinburgh an early opening.
From the resultant lineout maul, prop Ntuthuko Mchunu was yellow-carded for a deliberate knockdown and the Stormers were down to 14 men after five minutes.
It was an error-strewn opening by the home side which saw them lose several lineout throws and cough up possession repeatedly. Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also missed two early penalty attempts.
The home side finally put points on the board when Evan Roos went over after a flowing move in the 25th minute. First, Dan du Plessis made a good run and offloaded to Mchunu, who in turn sent the ball to the No 8, who made it over the line dragging a tackler with him.
Edinburgh recorded their first points when inside centre James Lang intercepted a loose pass five metres from his own try line, and ran the length of the field, outpacing Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant to the try line in the 34th minute. That left the score 7-7 at half-time.
In the second half Leolin Zas took a quick throw-in and an interchange of passes saw the left wing take the final pass to scoot over.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed his third kick of the night and the Stormers led 12-7.
Edinburgh responded almost immediately when flank Liam McConnell followed up Lang’s kick ahead but the TMO ruled that the forward was in front of the kicker.
Flank Paul de Villiers, restored to the starting team, delivered another eye-catching performance, making several crucial steals.
But Edinburgh weren’t to be denied as replacement prop Boan Venter powered over from close range in the 58th minute and Thompson converted to give the visitors a surprise two-point lead.
The Stormers regained the lead after Zas broke the line. A couple of passes later, and Warrick Gelant set Mchunu up to score in the 63rd minute. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion made it 19-14.
Roos extended the lead and earned his team a bonus point when he slipped through defenders to score a converted try in the 68th minute. There was still time for veteran Deon Fourie to dot down to the crowd’s great delight.
Meanwhile the Lions scored six tries to beat the Dragons 42-26 at Ellis Park on Saturday and keep the pace in their Vodacom URC playoff chase.
Elsewhere the Vodacom Bulls survived a massive Munster onslaught to narrowly defeat the Irish province 34-31 in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday.
With inputs from SA Rugby Mag.