The Stormers secured a thrilling 24-20 victory over the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium, marking their dominance at home and thwarting the Sharks’ hopes of claiming double victory over their rivals.
Played before over 52,000 cheering fans on Saturday, the match was as intense as expected, featuring quick shifts of momentum and nerves until the very last minute.
The Stormers opened the scoring thanks to Seabelo Senatla, who dived onto a kick-through from Warrick Gelant just minutes after the game began. Although they started strong, the Sharks retaliated with playmaker Jordan Hendrikse scoring the initial penalty after six minutes, putting the visitors on the board first.
The action saw the Sharks’ Yaw Penxe cross over for the first try of the match, spotting space wide and pushing the score to 10-5 as the teams battled through handling errors and missed opportunities.
Half-time saw the Sharks leading by five points. Still, the Stormers were determined to change their fate after trailing for much of the first half. Returning strong from the break, captain Deon Fourie bulldozed his way through Sharks’ defense to score. This followed another impressive effort from Manie Libbok, who showcased his agility with a brilliant try to put the Stormers back on top.
Yet, the Sharks weren’t backing down. The exciting duel saw Jordan Hendrikse score under pressure, leveling the match and then putting the Sharks back on top with another penalty kick, ending the score at 20-17 with just minutes to go.
But the Stormers refused to be bested on their home ground. Jean-Luc Du Plessis scored the game-winning try with powerful support from the forwards, finishing with Libbok across to convert and finally seal the deal at 24-20.
“We were our own worst enemies at times, just letting loose balls go and individual errors cost us momentum and field position. That is definitely something to look at going forward,” remarked Stormers Captain Deon Fourie, acknowledging the need to tighten their game plan for future matches.
Paul de Wet, named Man of the Match for his strong distribution and accruing runs, stated, “We talked about the loose balls and the second tip passes. It is something we train a lot and put focus on.” His performance was pivotal to the Stormers’ powerful second half.
The Sharks, meanwhile, were left to grasp the bitter reality of their inability to win at the Cape Town Stadium since 2021, losing for the sixth consecutive time on Stormers’ turf. Beyond stats, this match was about proving grit and recapturing pride within South African rugby’s fierce rivalries.
This victory accelerates the Stormers’ climb up the standings to eighth place overall, whereas the Sharks remain fifth, hoping to turn their fortunes around as the URC season progresses. Both teams now look forward to the next challenge, but the memories of this electrifying derby will linger long after the final whistle of the match.
