Stormers survive Quins fightback to reach Champions Cup quarter-finals

The win sends the reigning URC champions into the quarter-finals at the first time of asking, although they very nearly squandered a massive lead in the dying moments of the match, allowing Quins to score three late tries and come close to pulling off the unlikeliest of victories.

The first half was gripping as both sides threw everything at one another to gain ascendancy and there were small margins at times, but the Stormers managed to gain the edge, outscoring their opponents by three tries to one - with Springbok flank Deon Fourie earning a brace - for an encouraging 17-7 lead.

The second half was tightly fought with the Capetonians adding two more tries before surviving a brave fightback from the visitors.

Fourie opened up the scoring in the first minute after dashing his way to the tryline following a great break out wide and his fellow national team-mate, flyhalf Manie Libbok, added the conversion to hand the team a 7-0 lead.

The English club fought back with intent two minutes later to add to their first try of the match compliments of No 8 Alex Dombrandt, who forced his way over the chalk from a powerful rolling maul, and they leveled the scores with the extra two.

Both teams created opportunities as the half progressed, but the Stormers made the most of their chances with prop Steven Kitshoff and Fourie both crashing over from rolling mauls within 20 minutes of one another to hand them a 17-7 lead.

Harlequins fought hard until the end of the half to narrow their deficit before the break, but the tenacious Stormers shut them out, allowing them to enter the break with a 10-0 lead.

The Capetonians picked up where they left off seven minutes after play resumed with fullback Damian Willemse showing his magic to hold off a defender and touch down after a stunning inside pass by wing Seabelo Senatla, and Libbok slotted a penalty goal in the 56th to stretch their lead to 25-7.

Both teams ran hard at one another without success until the 74th minute when replacement Stormers loose forward Willie Engelbrecht dived over the chalk for their fifth try, and Libbok added the conversion to nudge their lead to 32-7.

Harlequins fought until the end with three tries after the 75th minute as Dombrandt clocked his second five-pointer, followed soon after by centre Andre Esterhuizen and wing Joe Marchant, but even though all three tries were converted, it still wasn't enough to overturn the deficit.