Cardiff scored a 22-16 bonus-point win over the ill-disciplined DHL Stormers, securing their place in the top eight, while the Stormers will have to wait until Saturday evening to confirm their place in the top four and their opponent in the quarter-final.
The Stormers started like a house on fire, and following an extended period in Cardiff’s red zone, Cardiff was shown a yellow card after just four minutes of play.
Following wave after wave of attacks by the Stormers’ forwards, it was eventually Adré Smith who forced his way over for the Stormers’ first try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to extend the Stormers' lead to 07-00 after eight minutes of play in the first half.
Cardiff absorbed the pressure and worked their way back on the field, and following a great kick-pass, winger Tom Bowen scored in the corner. Ioan Lloyd converted to level the scores at 07-07 after seventeen minutes of play.
Cardiff attacked off the kick-off and following great hands and interplay, Tom Bowen crashed over in the corner for his second try of the match to extend the Stormers’ lead to 12-07 after twenty minutes of play in the first half.
With ten minutes to play, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted a penalty to cut Cardiff’s lead to 12-10.
Following a yellow card to Adré Smith, Cardiff launched wave after wave of attacks, and eventually Ioan Lloyd had to reach to score Cardiff’s third try in the corner to extend Cardiff’s lead to 17-10.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half.
Cardiff continued to apply pressure, and eventually they spread the ball from a quick tap, and following great hands, Jacob Beetham scored in the corner to extend Cardiff’s lead to 22-13 with thirty minutes still to play.
The final thirty minutes were action-packed; however, ill discipline combined with the brilliant defence of Glasgow kept the Stormers from scoring much-needed points. Despite a late penalty conversion by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cardiff secured a well-deserved 22-16 win.
Scorers:
Cardiff Rugby: Tries: Tom Bowen (2), Ioan Lloyd, Jacob Beetham. Conversion: Ioan Lloyd.
DHL Stormers: Try: Adré Smith. Conversion: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Penalties: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2).
Teams
Cardiff Rugby: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Ben Thomas, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 George Nott, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher, 1 Danny Southworth. Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Rhys Barratt, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Alun Lawrence, 20 Evan Lloyd, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Stef Emanuel, 23 Leigh Halfpenny.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché (c), 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.
