Connacht go close but Stormers finish off in style

By JOHN FALLON

Stormers………. 43pts

Tries: Libbok 28, 33, Davids 16, de Wet 65, Theunissen 77, Nel 80

Conversions: Libbok 17, 29, 34, 66, 80

Penalties: Libbok 25

Connacht ……….25pts

Tries: Hansen, 13 Oliver 40, Hurley-Langton 59, Ralston 77

Conversions: Carty 60

Penalties: Carty 8

Andy Friend's five years in charge of Connacht came to a frustrating end in Cape Town when they let the champions off the hook in a fluctuating URC semi-final.

Two tries in the closing minutes gave the Stormers a flattering win in a game where Connacht had the majority of possession but failed to make chances count.

“At 77 minutes we are six points behind and I honestly felt we were going to sneak it,” said Friend. “It was a tit for tat sort of a game and I don't think the scoreline in the end is reflective.”

His side raced into an 8-0 lead after 13 minutes thanks to a penalty from Jack Carty and a try from Mack Hansen before the South Africans took over and hit the next 24 points, 19 of them from superb outside-half Manie Libbok who ran in a brace of tries after Angelo Davids got them off the mark.

A Conor Oliver try before the break cut the gap to 24-13 and Connacht got the margin down to 24-20 after 59 minutes when Shamus Hurley-Langton crossed.

Replacement scrumhalf Paul de Wet thought he had wrapped up the victory when he raced in to score 15 minutes from the end.

But the Stormers, who had to make 179 tackles to 59 for the visitors, just couldn't kill off Connacht and they left themselves open to late a smash and grab when Byron Ralston cut the gap to six five minutes from time.

However, the Stormers sealed the win through the magic of flanker Hacjivah Dayimani setting up two tries in the closing three minutes.

First, he pounced after Tom Daly spilled a kick from Libbok to send replacement flanker Marcel Theunissen through and then in the final play he sent centre Ruhan Nel in with an outrageous pass out the back.