The DHL Stormers secured a valuable 16-12 win over Connacht at the Dexcom Stadium to keep their hopes alive to secure a home URC quarter-final.
Both sides had opportunities to secure a win in this arm wrestle, however, it was the DHL Stormers who converted to penalties late in the second half to secure a 16-12 win.
The first twenty-two minutes was an arm wrestle with both teams who had scoring opportunities, however, it was Manie Libbok who opened the scoring for the visitors with a converted penalty to lead 03-00.
With ten minutes to play scrumhalf Caolin Blade scored Connacht's first try following an extended period of Connacht pressure on the Stormers' tryline to lead 07-03, which was also the halftime score.
A great try from broken play led to Angelo Davids' try after ten minutes of play in the second half securing a 10-07 lead for the Stormers.
Connacht set up camp in the Stormers' red zone for an extended time and following a five-meter lineout the host applied pressure with several pick-and-goes until they bulldozed their way over for Connacht's second try to retake a 12-10 lead with twenty minutes to play.
The Stormers retook the lead with two Manie Libbok converted penalties with 16-12 and seven minutes left to play in the match, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Connacht Rugby: Tries: Caolin Blade, Jack Aungier. Conversion: Jack Carty.
DHL Stormers: Try: Angelo Davids. Conversion: Manie Libbok. Penalties: Manie Libbok (3).
Teams:
Connacht Rugby: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 John Porch, 13 David Hawkshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Byron Ralston, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan (c), 1 Peter Dooley. Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Cathal Forde, 23 Santiago Cordero.
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Evan Roos, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Brok Harris. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.