Ulster led the DHL Stormers 38-31 until a penalty try was awarded to the DHL Stormers to level the scores 38-38 with time up on the clock. The Stormers were replaced by the Glasgow Warriors at the top of the United Rugby Championship log, following their 40-17 win over Cardiff tonight.
Despite a “brilliant” match, the Stormers can only blame themselves for the number of mistakes they made, not willing to revert to a bit of conservatism when under pressure, while under attack and on the attack, which in the end cost them a win.
Ulster struck early when the Stormers were guilty of not exiting from their red zone and allowed Ulster to spread the turnover ball wide to Werner de Kok, who scored in the corner. Nathan Doak converted to extend Ulster’s lead to 07-00 after four minutes of play in the first half.
The Stormers replied immediately, and Evan Roos crashed over following a bullocking run by Ntuthuko Mchunu. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted the try to level the scores 07-07, after seven minutes of play.
With Ulster reduced to 14 players following a red card, the Stormers upped the pace of their attack and following some great interplay, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ran a brilliant line to score the Stormers' second try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to extend the Stormers' lead to 14-07 after fifteen minutes of play in the first half.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted a penalty after 20 minutes of play.
Werner Kok scored his second try of the night after Ulster launched wave after wave of attacks with pick-and-drives and eventually spread it wide to Kok to score in the corner. Nathan Doak converted to cut the Stormers' lead to 17-14 with ten minutes to play in the first half.
With five minutes to play, Ulster scored off the back of a lineout maul when Nathan Doak put Zac Ward into the gap with soft hands. Ward scored Ulster’s third try, and following the conversion by Doak, Ulster led 21-17.
The Stormers started like a house on fire; however, following a disallowed try, Ulster attacked from within their half, and eventually Mike Lowry scored to extend Ulster’s lead to 26-17 after six minutes of play in the second half.
The Stormers attacked from the kick-off, and Imad Khan sniped off the back of a ruck to score the Stormers' bonus-point try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion cut Ulster’s lead to 26-24.
Despite the dominance of Ulster, the Stormers absorbed the pressure, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu eventually scored and converted again to claim a 31-26 lead for the Stormers with fifteen minutes to play in the second half.
Ulster upped the pace of their attack, and once again it was Werner Kok who scored in the corner, following brilliant interplay by Ulster’s backs and forwards. With ten minutes to play, the scores were level on 31-31.
Five minutes later, Ulster struck again, scoring under the poles, and the Stormers “earned” a yellow card. Following the try by Eric O'Sullivan, Nathan Doak converted to extend Ulster’s lead to 38-31.
The Stormers attacked with time on the clock, Ulster conceded a penalty try following a high tackle on Leolin Zas to level the scores on 38-38, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Ulster: Tries: Werner de Kok (3), Zac Ward, Mike Lowry, Eric O'Sullivan. Conversions: Nathan Doak (4).
DHL Stormers: Tries: Evan Roos, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Imad Khan, Penalty try. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (4). Penalty: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 James McCormick, 1 Angus Bell. Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Wilhelm De Klerk.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Paul de Villiers, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.