The Stormers overturned a half-time deficit to beat the Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.
Having trailed 10-8 at the break, the hosts dominated the second half to win 26-10 – although they missed out on a try-scoring bonus point.
The Stormers came into this match brimming with confidence having opened their Vodacom URC campaign with a 35-0 hammering of Leinster, while the Swansea-based Ospreys were looking to bounce back from a 53-40 defeat to the Vodacom Bulls.
The Welsh club had led by 14 points late in the first half at Loftus and they made a similarly impressive start in Cape Town when scrumhalf Kieran Hardy scored a try.
Stormers No 8 Evan Roos levelled matters after chasing down flyhalf Jurie Matthee’s cross-kick into the in-goal area.
Jurie ‘Ben 10’ Matthee is cooking in Cape Town once again
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But the Ospreys went back in front when – from a scrum just outside their 22 – winger Dan Kasend handed off Stormers centurion Dewaldt Duvenage and put Hardy away for his second try and a 10-5 lead.
Matthee then missed a simple penalty-goal attempt before making amends just before the break.
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Matthee added six more points via the boot upon the resumption, before the Stormers scored a stunning try that was started and finished by fullback Wandisile Simelane, who was named Man of the Match.
Wandisile Simelane
He finishes the move he started in style
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Replacement flank Paul de Villiers then went over from a lineout maul for the Stormers’ third try with 10 minutes to go to put the result beyond doubt.
With time up, the hosts kicked a penalty to the corner in search of a bonus-point try, only for a knock-on to end the resultant attack.
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The Stormers now travel to Wales to face the Llanelli-based Scarlets, while the Ospreys host Zebre.
STORMERS – Tries: Evan Roos, Wandisile Simelane, Paul de Villiers. Conversion: Jurie Matthee. Penalties: Matthee (3).
OSPREYS – Tries: Kieran Hardy (2).
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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