Stormers hang on for last-gasp victory over brutal Reds in an ugly match

● The Stormers hung on grimly to beat the Reds 25-19 in a scrappy, niggly match at Newlands that went down to the wire.

The Reds were seemingly out of the contest with 90 seconds to go when wing Filipo Daugunu broke from deep and showed brilliant pace to score a long-range try that brought the visitors to within six points.

A last-gasp effort by the Stormers pack, in a rolling maul close to their line a minute later saw them through, but it was an ugly win in an ugly game. The Reds play like coach Brad Thorne, the one-time All Blacks hard man, and his fingerprints are on this team.

They were brutal in the exchanges and not always legally, as they flew into contact with or without the ball. Only the officials can explain how tighthead Taniela Tupou stayed on the field after he felled wing Craig Barry with a shoulder charge early on. But it set the tone for a tough afternoon.

Flyhalf Damian Willemse gave another strong performance with 10 points, but his ability to control the game tactically was most impressive. His jinking run close to the line gave the Stormers the front-foot ball they needed for tighthead Wilco Louw to rumble in for the second try 29 minutes in.

Earlier the Stormers had benefited from a poor Reds clearance as well as their ability to sum up an attacking opportunity.

Wing Raymond Rhule accelerated down the left, drawing centre Samu Kerevi and rightwing Daugunu into the tackle while offloading to a supporting EW Viljoen.

The centre in turn drew fullback Aiden Toua before finding support from Dewaldt Duvenage, whose aging hamstrings were at breaking point as he raced to beat the cover to score the opening try of the game.

But the Stormers’ lack of control made it more difficult than it should have been.

Lock Pieter-Steph du Toit won a lineout, only to have the ball ripped from his grasp and two phases later No 8 Caleb Timu crashed over to give the Reds hope going into half time 18-7 down.

Right after half time the Reds scored through hooker Alex Mafi. But a try by Rhule gave the Stormers just enough daylight.

Only the officials can explain how tighthead Taniela Tupou stayed on the field after he felled wing Craig Barry