Party time as Stormers win 12-try thriller

By BEN JAYCOCK

Northampton…29pts

Tries: Glister 3, 29, Odendaal 40, Garside 63, Graham 77

Conversions: Salava 4, 40

Stormers………. 45pts

Tries: Simelane 10, Morabe 14, Pokomela 24, 80, Ungerer 37, Evans 70, Dayimani 73

Conversions: Matthee 11, 15, 38, 74, 80

Hacjivah Dayimani scored a breakaway try from inside his own half and ran into the crowd to celebrate before taking his shirt off to unveil a Saints jersey underneath as the tourists put on a show in the first ever meeting between the sides.

A thrilling first half delivered seven tries as Saints wing Will Glister grabbed a brace and Burger Odendaal crossed against his fellow countrymen. However, the South Africans went in at the break 26-19 ahead courtesy of Wandisile Simelane, Keke Morabe, Junior Pokomela and Stefan Ungerer tries.

Jake Garside and Sam Graham struck in the second-half for Saints either side of Connor Evans and Dayumani for the URC side, who completed their victory when Pokomela scored his second of the game in stoppage time.

It was Saints who struck first as visiting full-back Warrick Gelant lobbed a speculative infield pass that ended up in the hands of Glister to race in from 40m. Stormers hit back with two tries in three minutes as Simelane kicked behind before Morabe picked up a loose ball at the breakdown on halfway to run home.

After winning a scrum penalty and clearing up to halfway, Stormers landed a third as Pokomela finished from close range.

Saints got back within five points on the halfhour as Glister was on hand to take Odendaal's pass to finish. There was time for a try apiece before the break as Ungerer tapped a close-range penalty to dive over under the posts, then Odendaal responded for Saints, running on to Braley's pass to finish powerfully.

Garside cashed in on an excellent exchange between Sam Graham and Litchfield to bring Saints within touching distance. But entering the final 10 minutes, Stormers landed their fifth try when Godlen Masimla intercepted a pass and was superbly stopped by Savala, only for his offload to land in lock Evans' hands to finish.

Saints were knocking on the door for a converted try that would have levelled matters when a knock on in the 22 was pounced upon by Masimla, who chipped ahead for Dayimani to gather. An entertaining match delivered two more tries as a neat lineout move saw hooker Robbie Smith gun a low throw into the hands of Graham to score, with Pokomela grabbing his second in the final play.