Glasgow power past Stormers into semis

Defending champions, Glasgow Warriors scored five tries in a resounding quarter-final win at Scotstoun on Friday night to bring the curtain down on the Stormers’ 2024-25 Vodacom URC.

Winger Kyle Rowe scored a brace of tries as Glasgow converted a 19-13 half-time lead into a 36-18 victory, and second win over the Stormers this season. Franco Smith’s men will next week face the winner on Saturday between Leinster and Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium in the semi-finals.

The Warriors pulled away decisively after the break to extend their dominance over John Dobson’s charges to 5-1 and eliminate the Capetonians from the URC at the last-eight stage for the second consecutive season.

The Stormers struck first through Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s seventh-minute penalty, but their momentum stalled when captain Salmaan Moerat departed for a failed HIA and speedster Seabelo Senatla received a yellow card for breakdown infringement.

Glasgow capitalised immediately, flanker Rory Darge powering over from hooker Gregor Hiddleston’s clever lineout throw, before Rowe finished brilliantly in the corner following Sione Tuipulotu’s well-executed grubber behind the Stormers defence.

Clean pair of heels. #GLAvSTO #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/JEUe5x5wc4

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 30, 2025

Flyhalf Tom Jordan’s accurate boot extended the home side’s lead to 14-3, though Feinberg-Mngomezulu narrowed the gap with another penalty.

The visitors responded dramatically when Senatla, fresh from his sin-bin return, pounced on an unclaimed high ball and sprinted clear for a converted try under the posts.

However, South African No 8 Henco Venter restored Glasgow’s breathing space, spotting a gap around a collapsed maul to cross in the corner.

Injury concerns mounted for the Stormers when Dan du Plessis departed with a shoulder problem, forcing flyhalf Manie Libbok into the action and prompting a backline reshuffle with Feinberg-Mngomezulu moving to inside centre.

Heads up rugby from @THESTORMERS 🔥

Senatla flies over for a brace ✌️#BKTURC #URC | #GLAvSTO pic.twitter.com/8MkxNxF7qs

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 30, 2025

The Stormers briefly threatened early in the second half when Senatla completed his brace through slick interplay from Libbok and Warrick Gelant, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s missed conversion left Glasgow ahead 19-18.

Rowe quickly restored the title-holders’ advantage with his second try from close range before Glasgow seized control. Scrumhalf George Horne capped off a stunning breakout from a lineout turnover before converting his score to establish a commanding 33-18 lead.

Horne’s subsequent penalty stretched the Warriors’ lead, effectively ending the contest, while the Stormers’ woes were compounded when centre Suleiman Hartzenberg departed on crutches with an ankle injury.

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Photo: Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images