United Rugby Championship
Connacht (12) 15
Tries: Hansen, Ioane Cons: Gilbert Pens: Gilbert
Stormers (10) 22
Tries: Gelant, Sandi, Paulo, Ngobeni Cons: Matthee 2, Ahmed Pens: Matthee
Connacht fell to an opening-night defeat in the United Rugby Championship at Dexcom Stadium in Galway as the Stormers’ power wore them down in the second half.
After a slow start to the opening 40 minutes, two quick-fire tries for the hosts turned the game on its head in the dying minutes of the first half.
However, a brilliant display of strength and game management from the Stormers meant that the points would be leaving with the South Africans after the first game of the new season.
The visitors started the game in fast fashion when Ruhan Nel almost touched down after six minutes, were it not for Ireland back Mack Hansen’s last-ditch tackle to make sure the scores stayed level, before Jurie Matthee kicked between the posts to open the scoring for the evening.
Things would get worse for the Westerners when Warrick Gelant crossed for the first try of the game, when he chased a well-weighted kick after a period of pressure on the left wing for the Stormers, and Matthee slotted over the conversion.
Going into the last few minutes, Connacht stepped up their efforts to get on the board and that work paid off when Hansen, on his comeback to the field after a long time sidelined with a foot injury, grounded to make it a one-score game.
The drama was not over for the first half in Galway as Josh Ioane finished off well after a sweeping move after a turnover from Eoin de Buitlear, with the hosts going into the half leading the Cape Town outfit.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first, and Connacht managed a narrow escape thanks to the actions of Sam Gilbert, who managed to get his body under Seabelo Senatla to hold up his try attempt.
As the second half went on, Stormers grew more and more into the game, culminating in Sazi Sandi’s try after a multi-phase attack from John Dobson’s side, to put the visitors two points to the good with 25 minutes left.
The Stormers sealed their win with two late tries from Vernon Paulo and Ezekiel Ngobeni as the tired legs of the Westerners were starting to show, and Yaqeen Ahmed converted to put seven points between the teams at the final whistle.
Connacht: Gilbert; Treacy, Hansen; Devine, Forde; Ioane, B Murphy; van Wyk, de Buitlear, Bealham; Murray, J Murphy; O’Brien, Boyle, Hurley-Langton
Replacements: Victory, Duggan, Barrett, O’Connor, Flynn, Blade, Naughton, Bolton
Stormers: Gerlant; Zas, Senatia; R Nel, Roche; Matthee, Warner; Matongo, Venter, Fouche; Porter, Schickerling; L Nel, Dayimani, Norton
Replacements: Paulo, Reid, Sandi, Evans, Smith, Simelane, Ngobeni, Ahmed