By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The DHL Stormers picked up the five log points they needed with a 39-26 win over Leicester Tigers in their final pool stage Investec Champions at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.
The opening exchanges were physical and intense, with both sides testing each other early. Tigers defended well initially, with George Pearson impressing at the back, but the visitors were reduced to 14 men when Will Hurd was sin-binned for a high tackle.
The Stormers made that advantage count as Evan Roos powered over following a midfield break, before hooker André-Hugo Venter added a second from a driving maul inside the opening quarter making it 12-0.
Leicester hit back in style with almost identical converted scores under the posts through fullback George Pearson and centre Will Wand, with flyhalf Billy Searle adding the extras to give them a 14-12 lead.
A misfiring lineout and sloppiness in general play meant the Stormers were constantly under pressure deep in their own half.
On the half-time hooter, the Stormers squandered a golden chance as wing Dylan Maart spilled a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu grubber over the line. However, play came back for a penalty and the flyhalf slotted it for a 15-14 lead.
There were scores for each side through hooker Jamie Blamire and wing Leolin Zas shortly after half-time to make the score 22-21.
The Stormers then suffered a body blow on the hour mark when skipper Feinberg-Mngomezulu was yellow-carded for leading with the elbow in contact.
But a moment of brilliance by lock JD Schickerling, who set off on a near 40m sprint and threw an outrageous dummy on the way to a crucial score, gave the Stormers breathing room.
Imad Khan slotted the conversion and added a penalty as rain came down to push the lead out to 11 points. But the scrumhalf then saw his clearance kick charged down by replacement lock Tom Manz, who dotted down to make it 32-26.
However, Khan sealed the match with a try after the hooter, which Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted.
The Stormers now switch their attention to the Vodacom URC where they host the Sharks in Cape Town on Saturday.
Stormers – Tries: Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter, Leolin Zas, JD Schickerling, Imad Khan. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3), Khan (1). Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Khan.
Leicester Tigers – Tries: George Pearson, Will Wand, Jamie Blamire, Tom Manz. Conversions: Billy Searle (3).
Meanwhile Sharks kept their Investec Champions Cup off hopes alive with a big win against Clermont’s second-stringers at Kings Park.
The 50-12 bonus-point victory moved the Sharks up to fourth in Pool 1 on 10 points, three more than fifth-placed Toulouse, who host the Sale Sharks later on Saturday.
Third-place Saracens, who meet the pool-leading Glasgow Warriors in Scotland on Sunday night, are above the Sharks on points difference (+38 to –10).