Stormers edge Bulls with last-gasp try to stay top in north-south derby

The log leaders were forced to wait until the 79th minute before replacement prop Ntuthuko Mchunu crashed over from a driving maul to finally break the Bulls' resistance.

The Stormers struggled to convert early pressure into points, a combination of some scrappy play and several unforced errors, and instead it was the visitors who struck first just after the half-hour mark. After sustained pressure near the Stormers' line, Handre Pollard tapped a penalty and stepped through to score himself, giving the Bulls a deserved lead. The Bok flyhalf missed the conversion, leaving the score at 5-0.

The Stormers responded through the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who slotted a penalty before the Bulls were reduced to 14 men when Willie le Roux was yellow-carded for a professional foul.

With the Bulls under sustained pressure on the stroke of half-time, the Stormers finally made it count as Evan Roos powered over from close range following a lineout, sending the home side into the break with an 8-5 advantage.

Pollard restored parity early in the second half with a straightforward penalty, but despite further chances - including two long-range attempts that drifted wide - the Bulls were unable to capitalise on the Stormers' indiscipline.

The Stormers had their own chances and came close on several occasions, only to be denied by last-ditch defence or errors at the set piece.

With time running out and pressure mounting, the home side finally found a breakthrough. A late penalty allowed Feinberg-Mngomezulu to kick into the corner, and from the ensuing lineout their maul rumbled forward before Mchunu peeled off to score the decisive try.

The Bulls attempted one final attack from the restart, but a cross-field kick sailed into touch, bringing an end to a hard-fought derby.

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