Match report | Stormers overpower Connacht

September 25, 2026
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Ultimate Rugby

United Rugby Championship — Connacht Rugby 15-29 Stormers

The Stormers pulled away in the final quarter to beat Connacht Rugby 29-15, with four tries to two settling a contest that was still finely poised at the break.

First half

Jurie Matthee opened the scoring with an eighth-minute penalty before Warrick Gelant crossed in the 19th minute, finished off a slick move that Andre Warner had set up. Matthee's conversion made it 10-0 to the visitors.

Connacht hit back through a pair of close-range pick-and-go tries. Mack Hansen forced his way over in the 37th minute, converted by Sam Gilbert, before Josh Ioane added a second just before the interval, though Gilbert's follow-up conversion drifted left. The sides went in level at the break but with Connacht just ahead on the board, 12-10.

Second half

Gilbert stretched Connacht's lead to five points with a penalty just after the restart, but the momentum swung soon after when Paul Boyle was shown a yellow card in the 53rd minute. The Stormers made Connacht pay immediately, with Sazi Sandi barging over from close range and Matthee converting to edge the visitors back in front, 17-15.

From there the Stormers took control. Vernon Paulo scored from the base of a ruck after Connacht held firm near their own line, and with two minutes left Ezekiel Ngobeni finished off a stunning break from winger Seabelo Senatla to put the result beyond doubt. Yaqeen Ahmed's conversion, after an earlier miss off the post, completed the scoring as the Stormers ran out 29-15 winners.