Rainbow Cup: Stormers edge Sharks in wet weather battle

The Stormers beat the Sharks 25-22 in a scrappy Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA contest spoiled by the weather and poor refereeing.

Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA: Sharks 22-25 Stormers

The Sharks took an early lead as Curwin Bosch goaled a monster kick from 65 metres out.

After a period of sustained pressure, Ox Nche burst over for the Sharks first try and the hosts enjoyed a ten point lead after the first quarter.

A defensive lapse following a kick allowed Edwill van der Merwe to shred the Sharks defence and score a try that shifted the momentum in the match.

Van Der Merwe was on hand again to score as the Stormers piled on the pressure in the final ten minutes of the half. Abner van Reenen couldn’t convert the try and the Stormers took a 12-10 lead into half time.

The Stormers started the second half in similar fashion and some slick interplay set Pieter-Steph Du Toit in for a try that stretched their lead.

Siya Kolisi set Yaw Penxe in for a try ten minutes into the second half and the contest was back in the balance.

Moments later a chaotic piece of play saw Apehelele Fassi win a foot race and score the go-ahead try. With the Stormers attacking the ball struck Penxe in the head and flew loose before being hacked ahead by the Sharks.

Substitute flyhalf Tim Swiel slotted a penalty to level matters at 22-22 with 25 minutes left on the clock.

Van der Westhuizen makes the difference

The Stormers were given an edge when Sbu Nkosi got trapped in a ruck and was bizarrely yellow-carded by Marius van der Westhuizen.

With less than three minutes to go, the Stormers edged in front from the boot of Swiel after a collapsed scrum.

The Sharks tried to launch a final attack from deep in their own half but were hemmed in and eventually lost the slippery ball.