Stormers get the job done vs The Sharks

Stormers get the job done vs The Sharks

The DHL Stormers survived a huge scare to beat the Hollywoodbets Sharks 16-15 in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Adre Smith scored the Stormers' only try in Cape Town, with 11 points from the boot of Manie Libbok proving decisive.

The Sharks scored two tries but they remain one place off the bottom of the table while the Stormers join the Bulls on 26 points as South Africa's top team in the URC.

The visitors were dealt a blow before kick-off when veteran South Africa second-row forward Eben Etzebeth was forced to withdraw with an upset stomach.

The deadlock was broken after 15 minutes with Stormers skipper Deon Fourie making good ground.


Ben-Jason Dixon provided a brilliant offload for Smith to charge through for a try which Libbok converted.

The Stormers - who lost centre Ruhan Nel to a knee injury - turned down a couple of kickable penalties but the Sharks defence held firm close to their line.


Libbok did add a penalty when the Stormers disrupted a Sharks scrum as the hosts threatened to turn the screw.

But the visitors hit back in style to cut the deficit to 10-5 as Curwin Bosch found the freedom to fire a long pass into midfield.

Full-back Aphelele Fassi entered the line at pace and sent Werner Kok racing clear.

Libbok kicked a penalty five minutes after the restart but Bosch responded in kind to cut the gap to five points again.

The Sharks took the lead for the first time as the contest inched towards the hour mark.

Corne Rahl, who was called up to replace Etzebeth, used his power to cross and Bosch added the extras as the Stormers went down to 14 with Ali Vermaak sent to the sin bin.

But the Sharks were penalised from the kick-off and Libbok landed a third penalty.

Replacement Andre-Hugo Venter had a try disallowed but the Stormers held on to move up to sixth in the table.

Man of the Match

Dixon was a huge presence throughout in getting the home side on the front foot. He was tireless in the loose and his superb offload set up Smith for the Stormers' only try.

Play of the match

The Sharks struggled for attacking fluency but they did cut open the Stormers before half-time. A well-worked move from a line-out gave Bosch the space to find Fassi entering the line at pace and his well-timed pass sent Kok clear for a stunning score.

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