By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@TheStormers.
Connacht stun DHL Stormers in a United Rugby Championship (URC) thriller in Cape Town and boost their hopes of making the end-of-season play-offs.
The Irish side overturned a 10-7 half-time deficit to claim a bonus-point 33-24 win that propelled them from ninth to sixth on the standings.
The Stormers remained second, having squandered a golden opportunity to go top.
There was an emotional build-up to the game with a guard of honour as the late Chippie Solomon’s family walked on to the field and Stormers players went up to greet them.
The visitors scored five tries in their bonus-point win to bounce back from their elimination from the European Challenge Cup at the hands of Montpellier last weekend and make it six URC wins in a row.
Stormers lost Deon Fourie to a yellow card in just the third minute and Connacht capitalised within a few minutes as flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton went over in the corner despite the attempts of three Stormers defenders.
The try was awarded after a lengthy consultation with the television match official [TMO], who adjudged that the Connacht player had not been in touch before grounding the ball. Sam Gilbert added the extras.
The hosts responded well eight minutes later when Evan Roos exploited a gap in the Connacht defence and raced through to score behind the posts.
Having converted Roos’ try, Springbok fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s penalty on the stroke of half time, after the Irish side were penalised at the scrum, gave his side a three-point lead at the interval.
Ntuthuko Mchunu went over for Stormers’ third try eight minutes into the second half and soon after Paul Boyle barged over from close range for the visitors, both tries converted.
Mngomezulu added Stormers third try but Connacht centre John Devine replied immediately when he powered over at the other end.
With 10 minutes remaining, the away side edged ahead 26-24 thanks to a converted score from Ben Murphy.
Shayne Bolton picked up a loose ball and offloaded to the scrum-half, who sprinted away to touch down under the posts.
Sean Naughton’s intercept try extended the advantage, with Gilbert’s fourth successful kick ensuring a nine-point winning margin and Connacht’s sixth consecutive URC win.
Next Saturday sees a top-of-the-table clash between the Stormers and log-leaders Glasgow at Cape Town Stadium, while Connacht travel to Joburg to face the Lions.
Stormers – Tries: Evan Roos, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Connacht – Tries: Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle, John Devine, Ben Murphy, Sean Naughton. Conversions: Sam Gilbert (4).