With losses suffered earlier in the weekend by Munster and Cardiff, the Stormers had already secured top spot on the log before kick-off, but this hard-fought North-South derby further cemented their position.

It was their eighth win from eight starts in the competition, and they now head into a two-week Champions Cup window in a strong position as they chase a top-four finish.

The match itself was not a classic in terms of fluency, but it had all the tension, physicality and edge expected of this storied rivalry. For long periods it felt like a throwback to a bygone era, with territory prioritised over ambition, massive defensive hits and a steady accumulation of errors from both sides. 

The 53 600 supporters who filled the stands were treated to a first half played at Test-match intensity, even if the quality dipped as the game wore on.

Jeandré Rudolph. Photo: SA Rugby

The Bulls thought they had struck first in the 18th minute when Embrose Papier chased through a loose ball and dotted down, only for the TMO to rule his knee had crossed the dead-ball line. 

The first points eventually came on the half-hour mark when Handré Pollard caught the Stormers napping with a quick-tap penalty to score, though he missed the conversion.

The Stormers responded swiftly as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted a penalty to narrow the gap before sustained pressure inside the Bulls’ 22 paid off. From a driving maul, Evan Roos broke away powerfully to score in the corner, giving the hosts an 8-5 lead at the break.

Early in the second half, a Stormers knock-on handed the Bulls a scrum penalty, which Pollard kicked to level matters at 8-8. That is how it stayed for much of a scrappy second stanza, despite both sides having chances. 

Pollard missed two kickable penalties that could have swung momentum the Bulls’ way, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu and the Stormers repeatedly turned down shots at goal in favour of kicking to the corner.

That gamble finally paid off in the 78th minute. A lineout drive rumbled more than 15 metres before Mchunu peeled off the maul and powered over for the match-winning try. The Bulls had one last roll of the dice, but a cross-kick drifted into touch and the Stormers had their victory.

It was not pretty, but with ten wins from ten matches across all competitions this season, the Stormers, and their supporters, will happily take it.

Scorers:

Stormers: Tries – Evan Roos, Ntuthuko Mchunu Pen. – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Bulls: Try – Handré Pollard Pen. – Handré Pollard

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg