Stormers avenge loss to put an end to Cardiff's URC season

Cardiff’s domestic campaign is over after a 44-21 defeat in their play-off quarter-final in Cape Town to Stormers, who gained revenge for their loss to the Welsh club in the final game of the regular season.

Stormers ran in three tries in each half and proved too powerful for Cardiff after the visitors had taken an early lead through full-back Cam Winnett’s converted interception try.

The South African side responded with three converted scores before the interval as front rows Andre-Hugo Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu crashed over before wing Leolin Zas raced in to make it 21-7.

Cardiff struck first in the second period through number eight Taine Basham’s effort, with Ioan Lloyd adding his second conversion to reduce the arrears to 21-14.

But Stormers capitalised on a poor kick as fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu went over for an easy try, and although James Botham touched down for the visitors after a driving maul, the home side finished on top.

Paul de Villiers struck from close range for Stormers’ fifth try and a fine team effort was finished off by hooker JJ Kotze before replacement fly-half Jurie Matthee landed the second of his two late penalties.

The Stormers exacted revenge after losing 22-16 at Cardiff Arms Park earlier this month and they now face Leinster in Dublin or a home tie against fellow South African side Lions next weekend in their semi-final.

DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (CAPT), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Imad Khan; Ntuthuko Mchunu, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos

Replacements: JJ Kotzé, Vernon Matongo, Zachary Porthen, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Jacob Beetham, Ben Thomas, Rory Jennings, Josh Adams, Ioan Lloyd, Johan Mulder; Rhys Barratt, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Dan Thomas, Taine Basham

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Danny Southworth, Javan Sebastian, George Nott, Alun Lawrence, Evan Lloyd, Ellis Bevan, Tom Bowen