Stormers edge Tigers in tight Cape Town contest

Stormers 39-26 Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium

Leicester Tigers left Cape Town with pride intact after pushing the DHL Stormers close in an absorbing Investec Champions Cup clash, before the URC leaders pulled clear late on to win the encounter 39-26.

The opening exchanges were physical and intense, with both sides testing each other early. Tigers defended well initially, with George Pearson impressing at the back, but the visitors were reduced to 14 men when Will Hurd was sin-binned for a high tackle.

The Stormers made that advantage count as Evan Roos powered over following a midfield break, before hooker André-Hugo Venter added a second from a driving maul inside the opening quarter making it 12-0.

Leicester responded strongly and enjoyed their best spell of the first half. George Pearson, making just his second Champions Cup start, ran a superb line to score the Tigers’ first try, converted by Billy Searle.

Moments later, slick handling from a lineout released Will Wand, who stepped past the last defender to give Leicester the lead. Searle added the extras, putting Tigers ahead in Cape Town making it 12-14.

The Stormers regained a slender advantage before the break through a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty, sending the hosts into half-time 15-14 up.

Leicester struck first after the restart as a driving maul ended with Blamire crossing, and Searle landed an excellent touchline conversion. The Stormers hit back soon after, Leolin Zas finishing under the posts to swing the lead once more to make it 22-21.

The contest tightened as errors crept in from both sides. Despite Feinberg-Mngomezulu spending time in the sin bin, the Stormers extended their lead through JD Schickerling after a turnover. A late Tigers rally saw Tom Manz score following a charged-down kick, but Imad Khan’s late try from close range sealed the result for the hosts.