In a dramatic clash that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the Stormers managed to claw back to a draw against Ulster with a last-gasp penalty try at Belfast on Friday night. Despite salvaging a draw, the Stormers slipped from the pinnacle of the Vodacom URC standings, now trailing behind the Glasgow Warriors.
The match's climax arrived in the dying seconds as Stormers' wing Leolin Zas made a desperate lunge for the try line. Initially deemed held up by referee Andrea Piardi, the call was dramatically reversed after video review showed Ulster's Nathan Doak making dangerous contact. The resulting penalty try locked the score at 38-38.
The tension was palpable from the start, with the Stormers reeling early as center Damian Willemse exited with a facial injury, only to return later. Their resolve was tested further when Ulster's Blitzbok convert, Werner Kok, sprinted through for an early try. However, spurred by Ntuthuko Mchunu's powerful burst, Evan Roos responded with a try, his 12th of the season.
Ulster's captain Iain Henderson faced a red card for a dangerous move, escalating the intensity. The teams traded blows, with Ulster's Zac Ward and Michael Lowry scoring, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Imad Khan kept the Stormers in contention.
"Sacha slices through the Ulster defence for a beauty. A massive response in the race for a home Quarter-Final,"
Despite the back-and-forth, Ulster seemed poised for victory when Eric O’Sullivan barreled over near the match's end. Yet, it was the Stormers who had the final say with the penalty try sealing the draw.
The result left the Stormers just shy of the top spot, now occupied by Glasgow Warriors following their decisive win over Cardiff. With the Stormers set to visit Cardiff next, the race for the top remains fiercely competitive.
- ULSTER – Tries: Werner Kok (3), Zac Ward, Michael Lowry, Eric O’Sullivan. Conversions: Jack Murphy (4).
- STORMERS – Tries: Evan Roos, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Imad Khan, penalty try. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (4). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.