Hurricanes win thriller against Stormers

Hurricanes Hosea Gear is tackled by Stormers Schalk Brits (right) and Andries Bekker. Picture / Reuters

CAPE TOWN- Wing Hosea Gear grabbed a last-minute try to hand the Hurricanes a 23-19 win over the Stormers at Newlands this morning (NZT).

The Hurricanes moved second in the table on 20 points, two behind the Crusaders.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Stormers after they had led throughout.

The Stormers, on eight points, are in ninth position with the pressure firmly on coach Kobus van der Merwe.

The Stormers, with Springbok centre Jean de Villiers back after a three-week injury absence, dominated possession in the first half and only well-organised and brave defence by the Hurricanes denied the home team a try.

First five-eighths Peter Grant slotted three first-half penalties for the hosts, with David Holwell kicking a solitary three-pointer for the Hurricanes.

Rodney So'oialo claimed a 43rd minute try after the Hurricanes had set up a prolonged maul from a lineout.

The Stormers replied three minutes later with a well-worked try from hooker Schalk Brits.

From a lineout on the 22-metre line, he received a quick return pass and raced into the corner to score.

Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe then set up a touchdown for centre Tane Tuipulotu to help the Hurricanes pull within a point of the Stormers with five minutes to go.

As the match entered the final minute, the Hurricanes began a counter-attack deep inside their own half. The ball went through several phases before being worked wide to Gear.

He still had 20 metres to the line but somehow shrugged off four tackles to dive over in the corner and silence the partisan crowd.

Hurricanes 23 (Rodney So'oialo, Tane Tuipulotu, Hosea Gear tries; David Holwell pen, con; Jimmy Gopperth pen)
Stormers 19 (Schalk Brits try; Peter Grant 4 pen, con).

Halftime: 3-9.

- REUTERS