CAPE TOWN – The Stormers XXIII secured their second victory of the 2026 Carling Currie Cup campaign with a hard-fought 36-28 win over the Sharks XV at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
Tom Dawson-Squibb’s side responded positively after suffering a heavy 41-3 defeat to the Boland Kavaliers in Wellington last weekend. The encounter also marked a memorable occasion for 19-year-old centre Markus Muller, who made his Currie Cup debut as one of eight changes to the Stormers’ starting line-up.
The Sharks struck first in the third minute when winger Lyle Matthews finished off a well-executed rolling maul to cross for the opening try. The successful conversion handed the visitors a 7-0 lead.
The Stormers XXIII hit back almost immediately. Hooker Vernon Paulo powered over from close range in the seventh minute, with the conversion levelling matters at 7-7.
The home side continued to build momentum and took the lead in the 21st minute through No. 8 Wandile Mlaba, who finished another dominant rolling maul to put the Stormers XXIII 14-7 ahead.
The Sharks XV responded strongly, with scrumhalf Ross Braude producing a brilliant run in the 32nd minute to score under the posts and level the scores at 14-14.
The hosts regained control just two minutes later as debutant Markus Muller announced himself in style. The young centre collected possession inside the Sharks’ 22 before bursting through the defence to score his maiden Currie Cup try, restoring the Stormers XXIII advantage at 19-14 heading into the halftime break.
The Stormers extended their lead shortly after the restart when flyhalf Kyle Smith slotted a penalty in the 42nd minute after the Sharks XV were penalised for not rolling away, making it 22-14.
The visitors thought they had narrowed the gap five minutes later when replacement Hanu Pieterse crossed the whitewash, but the Television Match Official (TMO) overturned the try after a lengthy review for knock on at the back of the ruck.
The Sharks XV eventually earned their third try in the 56th minute as prop Phiwayinkosi Kubheka crashed over from another powerful rolling maul, reducing the deficit to just one point at 22-21.
The Stormers XXIII, however, responded in emphatic fashion. Centre Joshua Boulle finished off sustained attacking pressure in the 63rd minute to secure the hosts’ bonus-point try and extend the lead to 29-21.
Substitute flank Xola Nyali then put the result beyond doubt six minutes later, powering over for the Stormers XXIII fifth try after another dominant attacking passage to make it 36-21.
The Sharks XV refused to surrender, with replacement hooker Liam van Wyk scoring in the 73rd minute to cut the deficit to 36-28, but the Stormers XXIII defended resolutely during the closing stages to seal an important victory in front of their home supporters.
The result sees the Stormers XXIII bounce back impressively from last week’s disappointment.
IMAGE: @THESTORMERS/x.com
