Stormers deny Ulster late on in thrilling draw

Ulster winger Werner Kok scored a hat-trick as Ulster drew a URC thriller with league leaders Stormers 38-38 in Belfast.

Kok went over in the fourth minute for a try that Nathan Doak converted, but Stomers immediately levelled as Evan Roos crossed and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the extras.

Ulster were reduced to 14 when Iain Henderson was punished for a croc roll, with the second-row forward’s yellow card upgraded to a 20-minute red after bunker review.

Stormers took advantage with Feinberg-Mngomezulu scoring 10 points in seven minutes, but Ulster were ahead 21-7 at the break as Kok accepted Doak’s perfect pass out wide and Ward Zac profited from a smart lineout move. Doak landed two conversions.

Leolin Zas thought he had restored the Stormers lead three minutes after the break, but Mike Lowry had been tackled in the air and the try was ruled out.

Two minutes later Lowry raced over in the corner for Ulster’s bonus-point try, but Stormers rallied again with tries for Imad Khan and Feiberg-Mngomezulu, who took his personal haul to 21 points.

Kok’s third try levelled matters at 31-31 and it looked as if Ulster were home and dry after Eric O’Sullivan scored and Jurie Matthee was shown a yellow card.

But Stormers refused to yield and a penalty try in the final seconds left Ulster awaiting confirmation of a top-eight finish.