The Stormers moved into the top eight while the Sharks and Vodacom Bulls retained their log positions in a thrilling round 13 of the Vodacom URC.
The STORMERS‘ 29-17 bonus-point win against the Scarlets in Llanelli saw them shoot up from 12th on the log to eighth – the first time this season they have been in the top half of the table.
The Cape franchise are below Ospreys on points difference, one log point behind Munster and two behind Cardiff. John Dobson’s men could leapfrog all three of those teams if they beat Ulster in Belfast this Friday and Ospreys, Munster and Cardiff slip up in away matches against Scarlets, Connacht and Benetton respectively.
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While a top-four finish appears unlikely for the Stormers (they trail the Sharks by 11 log points), fifth place is a realistic goal with a run of four home matches to come.
Coach John Plumtree admitted “it doesn’t get much uglier” than the SHARKS‘ 35-34 win against Zebre at Kings Park. While pleased with the five log-point haul that kept them well ahead of fifth-placed Cardiff, he lamented his team’s poor skills and kicking game.
Plumtree rightly said the Sharks would have to be a lot better to beat Leinster in Durban this Saturday, and stay within touching distance of the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors on the log.
ALSO: Leinster won’t let Sharks off the hook – Plumtree
The Sharks will then face Edinburgh and Ulster on tour, before ending their league-stage campaign with two home matches against Welsh opposition.
The BULLS relied heavily on their pack to snatch a 21-20 victory against Leinster at Loftus. Both of their second-half tries came from lineout mauls and they won several scrum penalties, including one in the 85th minute that allowed David Kriel to kick the match-winner.
The result kept the third-placed Bulls ahead of the Sharks by one point, while they are four points behind second-placed Glasgow. But it shouldn’t hide the fact that the Bulls were once again well below their best at home this season, against an understrength Leinster team.
Coach Jake White will want a big performance from his men against Zebre at Loftus this Saturday, with tough tour matches against Munster and Glasgow to come.
If the LIONS don’t this season reach the URC playoffs for the first time, they will look back on their 20-17 loss to Cardiff at the Arms Park with deep regret.
Coach Ivan van Rooyen bemoaned the refereeing decisions that went against the Lions and insisted they had scored a try in the last play of the game. But he also admitted they had themselves to blame as they didn’t manage the windy conditions as well as the hosts.
READ: Cash rues ‘interesting decisions’ in Cardiff
Unfortunately for the Lions – who dropped from eighth to 13th on the log – it won’t get any easier on tour, with a match against Glasgow to come, and they may need a successful four-match home run to finish in the top eight.
Round 13 results:
Cardiff 20 Lions 17
Glasgow 28 Munster 25
Sharks 35 Zebre 34
Benetton 21 Edinburgh 18
Bulls 21 Leinster 20
Scarlets 17 Stormers 29
Dragons 30 Ulster 34
Ospreys 43 Connacht 40
Round 14 fixtures:
Friday, 28 March
Ulster vs Stormers (9.35pm)
Edinburgh vs Dragons (9.35pm)
Saturday, 29 March
Bulls vs Zebre (2.45pm)
Connacht vs Munster (4.30pm)
Scarlets vs Ospreys (5pm)
Sharks vs Leinster (7.15pm)
Benetton vs Cardiff (9.35pm)
Glasgow vs Lions (9.35pm)
Photo: Ian Williams/Gallo Images
