URC: Stormers slump to home defeat against Connacht in Cape Town

The game started on an emotional note as the hosts paid tribute to former manager Chippie Solomon, who passed away earlier this week, before kickoff.

Several Stormers players and coaching staff were in tears when Solomon's family walked on to the field ahead of the contest.

It was the Irish side who struck the first blow on the scoreboard when flank Shamus Hurley-Langton went over for a try in the corner and Sam Gilbert nailed the touchline conversion.

The South Africans hit back when hooker Scarra Ntubeni produced a superb offload out in Evan Roos for a try under the poles that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to level the scores.

The Stormers went into the halftime break 10-7 ahead when Feinberg-Mngomezulu nailed a penalty in stoppage-time.

The hosts started well after the interval when prop Ntuthuko Mchunu crash over for a converted try that put the Stormers 17-7 ahead.

Connacht, though, played the cold and wet conditions better and came back into the contest as replacement flank Paul Boyle muscled over for a try which was converted by Gilbert.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu went over for the Stormers' third try but from there it was all the visitors as the Irish team took control of proceedings.

Visiting scrumhalf Ben Murphy dotted down Sean Naughton intercepted and went over to close out a famous victory for the visitors.