Rugby: Stormers stunned by Sharks

Sharks 20 Stormers 14

DURBAN - The Stormers' Super 14 semifinal hopes were dealt a blow when they lost 20-14 to South African rivals the Sharks this morning (NZT).

The Cape Town-based Stormers remained second in the standings behind the defending champion Bulls, but could still be overtaken in the last round of the regular season next weekend.

The Sharks took advantage of the Stormers' error-filled performance with first-half tries by wing Odwa Ndungane and first five-eighths Ruan Pienaar.

First five-eighths Peter Grant registered his first try of the season five minutes into the second half to give the Stormers hope, but the visitors failed to play with any of the fluency that saw them hammer seven-time champion Crusaders last week.

Pienaar added two more penalties before Francois Louw's last-minute converted try snatched a potentially vital bonus point for the Stormers.

Sharks 20 (Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar tries Pienaar 2 cons 2 pens) bt Stormers 14 (Peter Grant, Francois Louw tries Grant 2 cons) at ABSA Stadium.

- AP