Match Centre: Heineken Champions Cup: Stormers 32-28 Harlequins

Stormers 32-28 Harlequins, DHL Stadium

Stormers managed to hold off a late try from Alex Dombrandt and Joe Marchant as they sealed a thrilling 32-28 victory in the round of 16 clash in the Heineken Champions Cup at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

The result means Stormers will visit either Exeter or Montpellier in the quarter-finals.

Stormers got off the mark in the opening minute as Hacjivah Dayimani and Suleiman Hartzenberg combined to send Deon Andre Fourie over the line and Manie Libbok kicked the conversion to make it 7-0.

The Quins responded back almost immediately as Alex Dombrandt dived over at the back of a maul with assistance from Jack Mauler while Marcus Smith improved it to level the scores.

The South African side seized the lead back as their second try came in the ninth minute when Steven Kitshoff rumbled over following a powerful driving maul before Fourie completed his second to steer Stormers to a 17-7 lead at the end of the opening half.

Stormers extended the lead into the second half as Damian Willemse collected an inside ball to dive in the corner. Libbok missed the conversion once again but made amends with a penalty in the 55th minute to make it 25-7.

Replacement lock Engelbrecht added a fifth try to the Stormers' tally as they extended their lead to 32-7 before Dombrandt and Marchant scored tries in the closing stage only for the Quins to fall short by four points.

Team line up:

Stormers: Willemse; Hartzenberg, Nel, Du Plessis, Senatla; Libbok, Jantjies; Kitshoff (c), Dweba, Malherbe, Van Rhyn, Orie, Fourie, Dixon, Dayimani.

Reserves: Kotze, Harris, Fouche, Porter, Engelbrecht, Theunissen, De Wet, Blommetjies

Harlequins: David; Marchant, Northmore, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care (c); Marler, Walker, Louw, Lamb, Herbst, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt.

Reserves: Riley, Baxter, Collier, Hammond, Lawday, Gjaltema, Allan, Beard