The Stormers are through to the Investec Champions Cup round of 16 after beating the Leicester Tigers 39-26 at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The bonus-point win saw John Dobson’s men move up to second in Pool 3 on 14 points behind Leinster (18), although Harlequins (11) still have to play their final pool game.
Despite an early 12-0 lead, the Stormers were never able to get away from the Tigers and the game was in the balance before an 81st-minute try from replacement scrumhalf Imad Khan.
The Stormers suffered a blow when prop Ntuthuko Mchunu was forced off in the fifth minute after a head-high hit by Leicester prop Will Hurd, who was yellow-carded.
Two minutes later, a scything linebreak by centre Jonathan Roche saw flanker Paul de Villiers offload for No 8 Evan Roos to crash over, with captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding the conversion.
On the quarter-hour mark, a 5m line saw the Stormers maul before hooker Andre-Hugo Venter powered over in the corner for a 12-0 lead.
Restored to 15 players, Leicester hit back in style with almost identical converted scores under the posts through fullback George Pearson and centre Will Wand, with flyhalf Billy Searle adding the extras to give them a 14-12 lead.
A misfiring lineout and sloppiness in general play meant the Stormers were constantly under pressure deep in their own half.
On the half-time hooter, the Stormers squandered a golden chance as wing Dylan Maart spilled a Feinberg-Mngomezulu grubber over the line. However, play came back for a penalty and the flyhalf slotted it for a 15-14 lead.
JP: Sharks showed killer instinct
There were scores for each side through hooker Jamie Blamire and wing Leolin Zas shortly after half-time to make the score 22-21.
The Stormers then suffered a body blow on the hour mark when skipper Feinberg-Mngomezulu was yellow-carded for leading with the elbow in contact.
But a moment of brilliance by lock JD Schickerling, who set off on a near 40m sprint and threw an outrageous dummy on the way to a crucial score, gave the Stormers breathing room.
JD Schickerling with the show and go
The DHL Stormers lead by six with five minutes to play
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Khan slotted the conversion and added a penalty as rain came down to push the lead out to 11 points. But the scrumhalf then saw his clearance kick charged down by replacement lock Tom Manz, who dotted down to make it 32-26.
However, Khan sealed the match with a try after the hooter, which Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted.
The Stormers now switch their attention to the Vodacom URC where they host the Sharks in Cape Town on Saturday.
STORMERS – Tries: Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter, Leolin Zas, JD Schickerling, Imad Khan. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3), Khan (1). Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Khan.
LEICESTER TIGERS – Tries: George Pearson, Will Wand, Jamie Blamire, Tom Manz. Conversions: Billy Searle (3).
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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