HIGH FIVE

SULEIMAN Hartzenberg delivered a man-of-the-match performance in his milestone game for the Stormers in Friday’s 34-26 United Rugby Champions win against Cardiff Blues at Cape Town Stadium.

Playing in his 50th game for the Stormers, Hartzenberg scored two tries to help the Kaapse span defeat a hardekwas Cardiff team and clinch vyfde plek on the URC standings in the final round of league games.  

The win sees the Stormers book a URC quarter-final rematch against defending champions, Glasgow Warriors (fourth), who beat coach Dobson’s Stormers in last season’s URC last-eight clash at Scotstoun Stadium.

And after watching the Cape team sukkel to give a desperate Cardiff outfit a ordentlike klap on Friday, the Stormers will need to go up a few levels if they hope to avenge last year’s exit at the first knockout stage.

However, in a game that saw No.10 Manie Libbok make his return from injury, the Stormers certainly did not disappoint fans by playing an entertaining brand of rugby, with a Leolin Zas try in the 9th minute opening the Stormers’ account.

Danny Southworth struck back for the visitors after 13 minutes to take the lead before Hartzeneberg scored his first five-pointer and Zas crossed for his second before Gabriel Harmer-Webb replied with the Welsh side’s second as the Stormers led 19-12 at halftime.

Six minutes after the break, the Cape side went 24-12 up as Hartzenberg scored his second from a brilliant Libbok cross-kick.

Cardiff then cut the Stormers' lead to seven points with a Harri Millard five-pointer 10 minutes later as the Stormers suffered a setback with 20 minutes to go, as Damian Willemse got sent off (red card) for a dangerous head clash.

A few minutes later Cardiff’s Southworth saw red for a similar incident as the Stormers pulled away with a Conor Evans try before Dafydd Hughes scored Cardiff’s fourth try late on.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu sealed the win with a 79th-minute penalty.

WEEKEND’S URC RESULTS:

Leinster 13 Warriors 5, Sharks 12 Scarlets 3, Zebre 12, Connacht 22, Lions 29 Ospreys 28, Bulls 55 Dragons 15, Munster 30 Benetton 21, Edinburgh 47 Ulster 17