Stormers Overcome Error-Strewn Start to Beat Ulster 33-7 in URC Bonus-Point Win

The Stormers banked a bonus-point win in Cape Town, but it was far from pretty. Ulster struck first at DHL Stadium, captain David McCann crashing over in the 20th minute for a 7-0 lead, and the visitors almost had a second try before a knock-on denied them with the line at their mercy. The Stormers' scrum gradually took control, Ulster prop Keynan Knox was sin-binned for repeated maul offences, and lock JD Schickerling levelled from a forward-driven attack before flanker Paul de Villiers charged down a clearance kick to score just before half-time for a 12-7 lead. The game turned early in the second half when Evan Roos collected the ball in his own half, broke through the Ulster defence and sprinted clear for a superb solo try. Captain Ruhan Nel gathered Yaqeen Ahmed's perfectly weighted cross-field kick to secure the bonus point in the 72nd minute, and Ahmed scored himself five minutes later to finish with a personal haul of 13 points from one try and four conversions. De Villiers, named man of the match, also made 15 tackles and won three turnovers. Coach John Dobson was blunt about the 14 first-half knock-ons, yet the win — a fourth straight home bonus-point victory — lifts the Stormers to 21 points and third place, level with the Bulls and behind leaders Glasgow on 23. Ulster, missing eight Ireland internationals, are still without a win after five rounds. The competition now pauses for the Nations Championship; the Stormers resume against the Sharks on 5 December.