The Stormers’ chances of qualifying for a URC play-off match at home ended on Saturday as the Ospreys won 27-21 in Cape Town.
The inaugural URC champions put in a dominant performance and were down 17-7 to the Welsh region at half-time, with Toby Booth’s charge dominating the match.
Luke Morgan (2), Sam Parry and Hari Deaves all scored for the visitors, while Jack Walsh added two conversions and a penalty.
The Stormers scored incredible tries from Dan du Plessis and Evan Roos, with Manie Livbok scoring both goals, but it wasn’t enough to see them win.
However, a penalty try on the final play of the match earned them a losing bonus point, which ensured that the Stormers retained their lead over the Welsh team.
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The Ospreys took the lead in the 9th minute, with Dan Edwards deftly kicking into space behind the Stormers defence, and Morgan finishing well to take the lead and shake things up.
Edwards’ effort to convert went just wide, but the visitors’ impressive opener was quickly replaced by a superb try for the Stormers, started and finished by du Plessis, with contributions from Wandisile Simelane and Nama Shaba. was overtaken by
Livbok scored, but the Ospreys continued to relish the challenge ahead and were back in front after 26 minutes when Parry fired over from close range under constant pressure. It was an impressive response from Toby Booth’s side, who scored their third try just before half-time.
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Livbok’s cross-field kick was latched onto by Walsh, who swung past the Stormers defenders and sent in Morgan for his second try, before converting for a 17-7 interval lead.
The Stormers had to find a quick response and conjured up a score from deep within their own 22 just five minutes into the second half.
Full-back Warwick Geraint was the starting point, with Simelane and Livbok creating devastating effects in midfield, with Roos finishing in style and Livbok converting to make the game three points.
However, the Ospreys kicked into gear again just when it looked like their opponents might take the lead.
Another spell of possession deep in the Stormers half was rewarded with a try from Deaves, converted by Walsh, to give the Ospreys a 24-14 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
The Stormers inevitably gave their best to the opposition in the final moments, but were unable to find a breakthrough and an 80th minute penalty try was just a consolation for the lost bonus point, with the Ospreys losing to a scene of jubilation in the camp. I ended things inside.
Edinburgh fight back to beat Scarlets
Edinburgh improved their chances of qualifying for the URC play-offs with a 43-18 bonus point win against the Scarlets at Hibs Stadium, scoring six tries.
The visitors, looking for their first win outside Wales in 15 months, took the lead at the break, but Edinburgh stepped up in the second half and cruised to a comfortable victory.
The win moves Sean Everitt’s side into eighth place, but the other three teams also have 39 points and there is still work to do before a play-off place is confirmed.
The Scarlets, who had already been eliminated from post-season contention, saved the Edinburgh lineout from a pinch and scored the first goal of an eventful match.
After the forwards drew close to the line, Vaea Fifita played a one-handed pass to Tom Rodgers, who converted the corner and Sam Costelow added another goal.
Edinburgh equalized through Wes Goossen’s magic. The full-back received a feed from James Lang, sold a perfect dummy and crossed the line for Ben Healy to score the try.
Costelow put the Scarlets back in front with a big penalty from the halfway line, and the visitors again capitalized on an Edinburgh mistake to extend their lead.
Ali Price’s box-kick attempt was blocked by Sam Roussi, Alex Craig’s hack forward fell perfectly and Gareth Davies scooped the ball over the line as the visitors built a 15-7 lead. It was half time.
Everitt tried to give Edinburgh momentum by replacing his entire front row at the interval, and soon scored his second try of the contest.
Price made amends for his earlier mistake by teeing up Duan van der Merwe with a switch pass, allowing the winger to run unimpeded to the line and score a try.
Healy then converted and added three more points from the tee to put Edinburgh in the lead for the first time in the match.
The Scarlets fought back and Costelow’s penalty saw the lead change hands again.
Stunning defending from the Scarlets side kept Edinburgh at bay on numerous occasions, but the ball went wide for Healy to tee up Matt Curry and score under the post. Healy’s conversion gave the home team a six-point lead.
At that point it looked like the Scarlets were lost, but Pierre Schoeman bulldozed over the line for his fourth try, giving Edinburgh a bonus point.
As the visiting team cowered, the home side added two more tries, Matt Bennett benefiting from a lucky ricochet to drop a point before a great team move saw Bill Mata slip through and score. finished.
Matthew Devine inspires Connacht’s win over Zebre
Academy graduate Matthew Devine impressed as Connacht defeated Zebre 54-16 in the United Rugby Championship at Dexcom Stadium.
The 22-year-old scrum-half made his first start with two tries in the first half as Pete Wilkins’ side opened up a 21-11 lead by half-time.
Geronimo Prisciantelli and Simon Gessi cracked the post between Jacopo Trulla’s try in the 20th minute, but JJ Hanrahan headed home and Niall Murray’s goal went wide.
Tom Farrell, Sean O’Brien, Bundy Aki and Hanrahan scored 17 points to take Connacht’s try tally to seven, with Mole’s illegal corruption resulting in a penalty try in the 76th minute.
Substitute Enrico Lucchin’s escape try was the highlight of Zebre’s second half, but the match ended with yellow cards for Danilo Fischetti and Andrea Zambonin.
Zebre took the lead in the 13th minute with a drop goal from Prisciantelli, despite center Fetuli Paea being sin-binned for a high tackle on John Porch.
Despite tackles from Gonzalo Garcia and Zambonin, Connacht crossed the whitewash first as Devine sniped from a tap penalty. Hanrahan converts from the right.
Despite this, Shane Jennings was unable to deal with Prisciantelli’s grubber kick, allowing Turla to lightly push the ball away for a touchdown.
Once again, it was Devine who provided the spark for the hosts, breaking from a ruck 40 meters out and diving close to the post.
Gesi’s penalty narrowed the gap to 14-11, but Hanrahan’s heavy cross-field kick bounced and Murray attacked from the left side.
Andrew Smith broke through in the 46th minute, his pass almost intercepted by Prisciantelli, but Farrell slotted it behind the post.
Hanrahan converted and a run up the middle led to O’Brien’s touchdown in the 52nd minute. Winger Smith was tackled short, but the ball was held and the young No. 8 dived in.
Zebre ran past Iacopo Bianchi, who was thwarted, but Prisciantelli broke Thomas Dominguez’s chip kick and brilliantly flicked past Luchin from 30 meters out.
That great work was undone by Fischetti’s yellow for a no-arm tackle in the closing stages, allowing Aki to power over from a maul. Substitute Caolin Blade hit a slick hand and Farrell fired Hanrahan for the try.
On the night Finlay Bealham made his 200th appearance for Connacht, Zambonin went into the bin for a late penalty try. The hosts currently sit in 9th place, level with Edinburgh in 8th place on 39 points.
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