A conversion in the last play of the game by DHL Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok with the side reduced to 14 men due to a red card saw the Capetonians snatch a home final next Saturday as they edged Ulster 17-15 in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship semi-final at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The victory ensured an all South African final against their Tshwane counterparts, the Vodacom Bulls, at the DHL Stadium on Saturday, 18 July at 19h30.
The first half was a tight tussle as both teams threw everything at one another, and managed to score twice with JJ Kotse (hooker) and Evan Roos (No 8) crossing the chalk for the hosts, while Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune and fullback Steward Moore touched down for the visitors, while scrumhalf John Cooney slotted over a conversion and penalty goal to hand them a 15-10 halftime lead.
The second half was a gruelling affair with the only points being a last-minute try by DHL Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant and a conversion by flyhalf Manie Libbok, which earned them the narrow victory despite both teams trying hard to make their presence felt in the second stanza.
03:30 JJ Kotze scored the Stormers' first try of the match from a lineout-maul. (05-00)
13:25 Evan Roos scored the Stormers' second try after a great eight-nine move down the touchline. (10-00)
17:15 Rob Baloucoune scored out wide from a set-piece. Simple. (10-05)
20:00 The Stormers were quick out of the blocks and scored two tries within the first fifteen minutes of the match. Thereafter Ulster clawed their way back into the match and scored a simple try close to the end of the first quarter.
27:25 Great interpassing by Ulster put Stewart Moore away to jog over the tryline. (10-12)
40:00 Ulster's Billy Burns converted his first penalty of the day. (10-15)
40:00 The Stormers started like a house on fire, however, Ulster clawed their way back into the match and dominated the second quarter to leed 15-10 at the halftime break.
60:00 No points were scored in the third quarter as both sides tried to outmuscle each other. Ulster at this stage the dominant side with the Stormers mostly pinned down in their half.
70:30 Adre Smith (Stormers) was shown a red card.
84:27 Warrick Gelant scored the Stormers' third try to win the match for the Stormers at the end. (17-15)
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: JJ Kotze, Evan Roos, Warrick Gelant. Conversion: Manie Libbok.
Ulster: Tries: Rob Baloucoune, Stewart Moore. Conversion: Billy Burns. Penalty: Billy Burns.
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Seabelo Senatla, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Damian Willemse, 11. Leolin Zas, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Herschel Jantjies, 8. Evan Roos, 7. Hacjivah Dayimani, 6. Deon Fourie, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Salmaan Moerat, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. JJ Kotze, 1. Steven Kitshoff (c). Replacements: 16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Neethling Fouche, 19. Adre Smith, 20. Ernst van Rhyn, 21. Nama Xaba, 22. Godlen Masimla, 23. Sacha Mngomezulu.
Ulster: 15. Stewart Moore, 14. Rob Baloucoune, 13. James Hume, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Ethan McIlroy, 10. Billy Burns, 9. John Cooney; 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Nick Timoney, 6. Marcus Rea, 5. Iain Henderson (c), 4. Alan O’Connor, 3. Tom O’Toole, 2. Rob Herring, 1. Andrew Warwick. Replacements: 16. John Andrew, 17. Eric O’Sullivan, 18. Gareth Milasinovich, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Matty Rea, 21. Nathan Doak, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Ben Moxham.
