Sunwolves ‘create history’ against Stormers

● Hayden Parker brilliantly knocked over a drop-goal after full time as Japan’s Sunwolves edged a thriller against the Stormers 26-23 to seal their first back-to-back wins in Super Rugby yesterday.

The Sunwolves had been headed for defeat minutes earlier, after SP Marais’s longrange penalty, but a Parker penalty levelled it before his sublime drop-goal brought the Hong Kong crowd to its feet.

The Tokyo-based team have endured some torrid defeats since entering the competition in 2016, but have now won twice in a row for the first time after last week’s 63-28 rout of the Reds.

The Sunwolves’ fifth victory was also their first away from Tokyo — and it extinguished the faint play-off hopes of the Stormers, who are languishing at the foot of the South African conference.

“We created history today,” said Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph. “We’ve had some lean times, no doubt. But really we’re headed in the right direction and I think that’s really pleasing for the players.” In sweltering conditions for Hong Kong’s first Super Rugby game, the Stormers were quickly into the lead when wing Dillyn Leyds gathered a kick in his own half and weaved down the right flank to score in the corner.

Johannes Engelbrecht’s intercept try widened the advantage before Sunwolves flyhalf Parker hit back with a breakaway score for 12-7.

A try from Stormers fullback Marais and a Parker penalty put the Capetonians 17-10 ahead, but lock Grant Hattingh levelled it at 17-17 after a slick move 17 minutes into the second half. Parker stroked the Sunwolves into the lead for the first time with a penalty on 65 minutes, before Marais’s kick with 10 minutes to go locked it up at 20-20.

With six minutes left, Marais belted one over from behind the halfway line to leave the Sunwolves staring at a cruel defeat — before Parker’s 80th-minute penalty and postsiren drop-goal.

The New Zealand flyhalf ended with 21 points as the Sunwolves, featuring many of Japan’s expected 2019 World Cup squad, registered a first victory over the Stormers.

A deflated Stormers coach Robbie Fleck paid tribute to the Sunwolves.

“They’ve worked their way up (the field) and it was exceptional brilliance that won the game — well played,” said the South African.

Picture: Getty Images Sunwolves players celebrate Hayden Parker’s victory drop-goal during their Super Rugby match against Stormers at Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong yesterday.