Stormers hold off ferocious Ulster fightback to win URC thriller

The Stormers held on for a thrilling United Rugby Championship victory over Irish outfit Ulster at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

The Stormers won a nail-biting encounter 23-20, after leading 20-13 at half-time.

The Cape side had led 14-0 inside the first 10 minutes, but in the end had to hang on for dear life as Ulster launched several attacking forays onto their tryline.

Ulster enjoyed 63% possession and 67% territory but the Stormers displayed some heroic defence to claim a vital scalp.

AS IT HAPPENED | Stormers v Ulster

The hosts Stormers were fast out the blocks and scored two eye-catching tries in the opening 10 minutes.

Scrumhalf Paul de Wet try crossed in the third minute. The move started with some magical running by the Stormers backs from inside their own half, with Leolin Zas and Warrick Gelant sublime in putting De Wet away.

Winger Zas then scored a try in the seventh minute, rounding off another great team effort.

Ulster scored their first try in the 22nd minute when tighthead prop Marty Moore barged over after a concerted period of attack.

The Stormers soon stretched their lead by 10 points when Libbok converted an easy penalty that was won on the ground by industrious flanker Deon Fourie.

A couple of minutes later, however, Fourie was pinged in front of his own posts which allowed Ulster scrumhalf John Cooney to reduce the deficit to 17-10.

Just before the break, Ulster won a scrum penalty in range which allowed Cooney to close the gap to four points (17-13).

But the Stormers got a kicking penalty on the verge of half-time and Libbok made no mistake from about 40m out, putting the home side 20-13 ahead.

Ulster started the second stanza on the front-foot, launching wave after wave of attack but the Stormers defence