Stormers finish strongly to beat Connacht 29-15 in URC opener

Stormers opened their United Rugby Championship campaign with a 29-15 victory over Connacht at Dexcom Stadium in Galway on Friday, September 25. The visitors scored four tries to the hosts' two, with late contributions from Vernon Paulo and Ezekiel Ngobeni completing the win. Match reports from the Irish Examiner and Ultimate Rugby confirmed the result after Connacht had taken a narrow lead into half-time.

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Jurie Matthee put Stormers ahead with a penalty before Warrick Gelant scored their opening try, with Andre Warner involved in the build-up. Matthee converted to establish a 10-0 advantage. Connacht then overturned that deficit before the interval: Mack Hansen scored from close range and Sam Gilbert added the conversion, before Josh Ioane crossed for an unconverted try to make it 12-10.

Gilbert's second-half penalty extended the home side's advantage to 15-10, but Connacht could not protect it. Captain Paul Boyle received a yellow card, and Sazi Sandi subsequently scored for Stormers. Matthee's conversion restored the visitors' lead at 17-15, leaving Connacht behind after their recovery either side of the break. Those were the hosts' last points of the evening.

The Irish Examiner reported that Connacht resisted sustained pressure, with replacement scrum-half Caolin Blade winning a turnover during that defensive effort. Yaqeen Ahmed also had a try disallowed for crossing. Neither interruption prevented the visitors from adding to their total, however, as Paulo crossed from close range and Ngobeni supplied their fourth try. Ahmed added a conversion as Stormers finished 14 points clear.

The closing scores changed the rewards for both teams. Stormers secured a try bonus point, while Connacht were left outside losing-bonus-point range. Ultimate Rugby's scoring summary credited Matthee with two conversions and a penalty, alongside Ahmed's conversion; Gilbert supplied Connacht's only conversion and their second-half penalty. All three second-half tries belonged to the visitors.

For Connacht, the defeat came on a night celebrating their 2016 PRO12-winning side. According to the Irish Examiner, members of that team and former head coach Pat Lam were present. The home side's brief lead did not translate into an opening victory, with Stormers' forwards and late scoring settling the contest.