Late Stormers surge sinks Leicester to secure Champions Cup qualification

In a match marked by several momentum swings, the hosts eventually pulled clear late to seal a bonus-point win that keeps them firmly in the hunt for a home knockout.

The Stormers struck first through Evan Roos, who finished off a sharp move from a lineout, before Andrd-Hugo Venter powered over from a maul to give the home side early control.

However, Leicester responded strongly, capitalising on Stormers mistakes as George Pearson and Will Wand crossed to swing the lead in the visitors' favour.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's penalty on the stroke of half-time handed the Stormers a narrow 15-14 lead at the break, but the visitors were looking dangerous.

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The Tigers regained the advantage early in the second half when Jamie Blamire drove over from a maul, but the Stormers hit back almost immediately through Leolin Zas after strong work from Paul de Villiers. Feinberg-Mngomezulu's conversion nudged the hosts back in front in a contest that remained finely poised.

Despite Feinberg-Mngomezulu spending ten minutes in the sin bin, the Stormers produced the decisive moment when lock JD Schickerling surged through from distance for a superb solo try, sparked by sharp work at the breakdown from replacement scrumhalf Imaad Khan, who added the conversion and later slotted a crucial penalty to stretch the lead.

Leicester threatened a late comeback when Tom Manz charged down Khan's up-and-under to score, but the Stormers' forwards took control in the closing stages. Sustained scrum pressure earned repeated penalties, and Khan capped an impressive cameo by sniping over from the base to seal the result before Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the extras.