Stormers close home run on a high

Yaqeen Ahmed scored 13 points as the Stormers beat Ulster in the URC on Saturday to make it four straight bonus-point wins at Cape Town Stadium heading into a month’s break.

The Stormers recovered from a slow start to take a 12-7 half-time lead, before tries from Ahmed, captain Ruhan Nel and the rampaging Evan Roos in the second 40 secured a 33-7 round-five victory.

John Dobson’s men beat the Sharks (39-22), Bristol Bears (49-12) and Scarlets (52-40) across the URC and Investec Champions Cup in the lead-up to Saturday’s result.

The Ulstermen, who were missing eight Ireland internationals, are still waiting for their first win of the URC season.

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Bongi Mbonambi was set to play off the bench after rejoining the Stormers this week. However, the double World Cup-winning hooker was ruled out before kick-off and replaced by debutant Altus Rabe.

A late injury to Jonathan Roche also pushed Markus Muller, named for the first time on Wednesday in the Springboks’ 37-man squad for the second leg of the Nations Championship, into the No 12 jersey.

Handling errors disrupted the opening exchanges before Ulster struck first through skipper David McCann, who crashed over after a sustained attacking spell.

Flyhalf Jack Murphy added the conversion, but the visitors’ discipline let them down when tighthead prop Keynan Knox was sent to the sin-bin for repeated infringements.

The Stormers made the extra man count, with JD Schickerling finishing a forward-driven attack before Paul de Villiers charged down and pounced on a loose clearance to score. Ahmed missed the second conversion, leaving the hosts five points ahead at the break.

The big man JD Schickerling over for @THESTORMERS

@Vodacom #LetsDoSummer #URC https://t.co/JGdtD34koS

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) October 31, 2026

Charge Down Try! Paul de Villiers goes over for @THESTORMERS second try!

@Vodacom #LetsDoSummer #URC https://t.co/Bb281kMHBa

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) October 31, 2026

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The Stormers pulled clear after the interval. Roos produced a superb solo effort early in the half, collecting a short pass and sprinting clear to touchdown.

What a try by Evan Roos 💪
@THESTORMERS

@Vodacom #LetsDoSummer #URC https://t.co/oTBrnixIHc

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) October 31, 2026

The game then became a stop-start affair, with Ulster struggling to build sustained pressure. Nel finished a well-judged cross-kick from Ahmed in the corner before the No 10 sliced through the defence to add the finishing touches to proceedings.

When the URC resumes, the Stormers face the Sharks at Kings Park on 5 December, while Ulster face Cardiff in Wales.

However, Roos and winger Leolin Zas limping off either side of the half-time will be concerns for Dobson over the coming weeks.

STORMERS – Tries: JD Schickerling, Paul de Villiers, Evan Roos, Ruhan Nel, Yaqeen Ahmed. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (4).
ULSTER – Try: David McCann. Conversion: Jack Murphy.

Photo: @THESTORMERS/X