Scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer scored a 79th-minute try as the Stormers XXIII beat Griquas in their opening Currie Cup match in Cape Town on Friday night.
The 25-19 victory snapped an eight-match losing streak for the team formerly known as Western Province against their Kimberley-based opponents.
However, the Stormers and small crowd had to wait anxiously as the match officials watched several TV replays before ruling that Ungerer had not knocked on at the last ruck.
REPORT: Sharks hold on for narrow win
Stormers captain Jean-Luc du Plessis opened the scoring in this match with a penalty goal, before Griquas responded with a try to centre Sako Makata.
The hosts then copped two yellow cards in quick succession – to lock Gerbrandt Grobler and centre Cornel Smit – and Griquas flank Lourens Oosthuizen went over from a lineout maul shortly after they’d been restored to 14 men.
But the Stormers hit back through hooker Vernon Paulo just before the break and then took the lead early in the second half when winger Mfundo Ndhlovu slid over. Substitute flyhalf Dominic Malgas kicked the conversion and then added a penalty.
Replacement hooker Tiaan Lange crossed for Griquas’ third try, before both teams had flanks yellow-carded for shoulder-to-the head tackles – the Stormers’ Divan Fuller and Griquas’ Derik Pretorius, the latter’s upgraded to a 20-minute red card.
The visitors would finish the match with 13 men after replacement flank Carel van der Merwe saw yellow for dangerous play when his side seemed set to secure victory with a bonus-point try.
It proved costly as Ungerer scored at the other end to get the Stormers’ Currie Cup campaign off to a winning start.
In round two, Griquas will host the Bulls XV in Kimberley next Saturday with the Stormers heading up the N1 to meet the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.
STORMERS XXIII – Tries: Vernon Paulo, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Stefan Ungerer. Conversions: Dominic Malgas (2). Penalties: Jean-Luc du Plessis, Malgas.
GRIQUAS – Tries: Sako Makata, Lourens Oosthuizen, Tiaan Lange. Conversions: George Whitehead (2).
Photo: Stormers
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Scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer scored a 79th-minute try as the Stormers XXIII beat Griquas in their opening Currie Cup match in Cape Town on Friday night.
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