A brilliant try midway through the second half completed a stirring comeback by the Sharks and ensured a 20-15 win over the Stormers in a thrilling all-South Africa Super 14 clash on Saturday.

The Durban team won a scrum just a few metres from their line and broke away with outstanding scrum-half Rory Kockott playing a pivotal role as the sweeping move ended with fullback Stefan Terblanche crossing unopposed.

It was an especially pleasing try for the veteran former Springbok as his mistakes had helped the Stormers take a 10-0 halftime lead.

A sell-out 45,000 crowd saw 80 minutes of fierce, in-your-face action and the Cape Town-based Stormers suffered a huge blow soon after halftime when captain and centre Jean de Villiers was carried off with his neck in a brace.

Several other combatants required medical attention during the battle between two of the South African franchises considered serious challengers for the title.

Springbok loose forward Schalk Burger, sporting an unfamiliar short back and sides, was given the honour of leading out the Stormers to mark his 50th Super rugby appearance.

It was the home side who impressed most in the opening half, attacking and defending with passion, while Sharks flyhalf Ruan Pienaar missed three penalty attempts.

A poor Terblanche clearance led to a multi-phase Stormers assault that ended with centre Gcobani Bobo barging over for a 19th-minute try converted by flyhalf Peter Grant, who added a close-range penalty before halftime.

The loss of the inspirational De Villiers unsettled the Stormers and, as the Sharks changed their goalkicker, so did their fortunes with Kockott landing two penalties to close the gap to just four points.

A swift tap penalty set up Springbok 2007 World Cup-winning captain and hooker John Smit for a pushover try confirmed by the TV official and Kockott converted to put the Sharks ahead for the first time on 60 minutes.

Within five minutes Terblanche touched down under the posts, leaving Kockott with the simple task of converting and giving the 2008 semi-finalists a 10-point advantage in windy conditions.

The Stormers raised their game in the closing stages and Grant went over for a try after evading Pienaar following another tap penalty, but his conversion hit the right post and rebounded into play.

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