Stormers sweep Ulster aside 33-7 with five tries in Cape Town
The Stormers finished their home run in style, beating Ulster 33-7 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, 31 October. The win, in round five of the United Rugby Championship, came in front of 18,605 supporters and gave the home side a bonus point for scoring five tries.
Ulster struck first. Captain David McCann crossed for a try in the 20th minute, converted by fly-half Jack Murphy, to put the visitors 7-0 ahead. The Stormers hit back after Ulster prop Keynan Knox was sent to the sin-bin in the 27th minute for repeated infringements. JD Schickerling powered over in the 34th minute, Yaqeen Ahmed converted to level the scores, and Paul de Villiers scored from a charged-down kick a minute before half-time. Ahmed missed that conversion, so the Stormers led 12-7 at the break.
The home side pulled clear after the restart. Evan Roos collected the ball in his own half early in the second half and sprinted clear for a superb solo try, converted by Ahmed to make it 19-7. Captain Ruhan Nel gathered Ahmed’s cross-field kick to score in the 71st minute, and Ahmed converted again for 26-7. Ahmed then crossed for a try of his own late on and added the conversion to complete the scoring. His personal haul was 13 points: a try and four conversions.
Why it matters
The result made it four straight bonus-point wins at home for the Stormers in October, heading into the November international break. They turned a scrappy, error-filled first half into a convincing win, with their scrum dominance and the form of young fly-half Ahmed standing out. For Ulster, it was a third defeat in five matches this season, and they are still waiting for a first win. They were missing eight Ireland internationals, and their discipline cost them at key moments.
What happens next
The United Rugby Championship now pauses for the November internationals. When it resumes, the Stormers travel to face the Sharks at Kings Park on 5 December, while Ulster face Cardiff in Wales. Stormers coach John Dobson will also be watching the fitness of Roos and winger Leolin Zas, who both limped off during the match.
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Sources
- https://www.kairossport.co.za/2026/10/31/stormers-finish-strongly-to-sweep-ulster-aside/ (Kairos Sport, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/stormers-close-home-run-high/ (SA Rugby Mag, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.rugbypass.com/news/united-rugby-championship-stormers-heap-more-misery-on-winless-ulster/ (RugbyPass, 31 October 2026)
