Stormers break Griquas hoodoo
The Stormers secured a narrow 25-19 victory against the Griquas in their Currie Cup opening match, ending an eight-match losing streak. The game was marked by multiple yellow cards and a late, decisive try by scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer.
Why it matters
This result is significant for the Stormers' campaign momentum and marks a shift in their historical performance against the Griquas.
Scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer scored a 79th-minute try as the Stormers XXIII beat Griquas in their opening Currie Cup match in Cape Town on Friday night.
The 25-19 victory snapped an eight-match losing streak for the team formerly known as Western Province against their Kimberley-based opponents.
However, the Stormers and small crowd had to wait anxiously as the match officials watched several TV replays before ruling that Ungerer had not knocked on at the last ruck.
Stormers captain Jean-Luc du Plessis opened the scoring in this match with a penalty goal, before Griquas responded with a try to centre Sako Makata.
The hosts then copped two yellow cards in quick succession – to lock Gerbrandt Grobler and centre Cornel Smit – and Griquas flank Lourens Oosthuizen went over from a lineout maul shortly after they’d been restored to 14 men.
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