The victory saw them trail log-leaders, Leinster, by 11 points, and take a seven-point lead over third-placed Ulster.

The DHL Stormers dominated the first half completely and did well to convert their point-scoring opportunities into points, which saw them score three tries and a penalty goal, while they limited the hosts to a converted try for a 24-7 halftime lead.

The Capetonians added another three second-half tries, and the Cell C Sharks showed their fighting spirit to score two of their own, but this was not enough to contain a sublime DHL Stormers team.

DHL Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored a try in the first minute after gathering a stunning pass from a great break in the midfield and the conversion pushed them 7-0 ahead.

Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok had a chance to extend their lead minutes later, but his attempt at the goal posts went wide, but this did not stop them from continuing to make their presence felt as former Durban lock Ruben van Heerden forced his way over a defender in the 18^th minute for their second try to double their score.

Libbok added an extra three compliments of a penalty goal in the 25^th minute, and if it were not for a crucial mistake on the tryline they could have scored their third try.

The Capetonians, however, put this mistake behind them quickly as hooker Joseph Dweba scored try from rolling maul in 32^nd minute to stretch their lead to 24-0.

The Cell C Sharks refused to give up and they earned the rewards with lock Gerbrandt Grobler dashing over for an important try on the stroke of halftime to push them 24-7 down.

The Cape side picked up where they left off after the restart with wing Seabelo Senatla dancing his way through the defence in the corner in the 42^nd minute, and then gathered a great kick forward to hand off to his fellow wing Suleiman Hartzenberg minutes later to add two more tries to their tally for a 38-7 lead.

The Cell C Sharks worked their way close to the tryline soon after but conceded a costly penalty, which denied them from possibly adding to their score.

Libbok added the DHL Stormers’ sixth try shortly before the fourth quarter as he darted through to the tryline thanks to his raw pace, but this was cancelled out by the Durbanites’ replacement hooker Dan Jooste shortly after through a smart front-of-the-lineout move, and the conversion pushed their score to 14 points.

The hosts continued their fightback with Grobler adding third try in the 70^th minute after snatching the ball out of the air in a lineout and stretching over the chalk to take the score to 43-19, but a late penalty goal by Libbok left them four points short 50 points.

Scorers:

Cell C Sharks 19 (7) – Tries: Gerbrandt Grobler (2), Dan Jooste. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2).

DHL Stormers 46 (24) – Tries: Herschel Jantjies, Ruben van Heerden, Joseph Dweba, Seabelo Senatla, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Manie Libbok. Conversions: Clayton Blommetjies, Manie Libbok (4). Penalty goals: Libbok (2).