A sideline conversion by Kurtley Beale tied the scores with 12 minutes remaining and despite chances to both teams neither side could gain the edge as the clock wound down.

The match was played in atrocious conditions with heavy rain from start to finish and a swirling wind playing havoc with both sides’ kicking games.

Beale defied conditions to open the scoring with a penalty in the second minute, however missed an opportunity to double the lead four minutes later.

The conditions played a big hand in the next score, with the Stormers attacking and using width despite the greasy ball. As Rob Horne brought down Sireli Naqelevuki in a cover tackle, the Fijian winger continued to slide for the best part of five metres until the ball grazed the goalline for a try.

Peter Grant’s conversion looked good but fell short leaving the Stormers with a 5-3 advantage.

Beale added another penalty in the 29th minute which sent the Waratahs into half-time with a one point lead.

Both teams were forced to back pedal and kick repeatedly in an energy-sapping opening stanza, with each side asserting themselves in periods of dominance. The defence from both sides was confrontational and effective, and there was a feeling something against the run of play could change the match.

That happened just seconds after the resumption when Lachie Turner attempted to clear the kick-off but was charged down by Wylie Human. The Stormers flyer collected the perfectly bouncing ball and touched down out wide for a 10-6 lead.

Rather than dropping their heads, the Waratahs remained resolute and were unlucky to remain four points back when a Beale penalty attempt went wide in the 54th minute.

The Stormers took the lead out to seven with a Grant-penalty in the 65th minute and it was clear the Waratahs would need at least one try to get back in the match.

With man of the match Phil Waugh leading the way, the Waratahs backed themselves with ball in hand straight away, and after the forwards laid the platform in increasingly heavy weather, the ball went left for Tuqiri to power over inches in from touch in the 68th minute.

Beale then hit a perfect sideline conversion to erase the margin and the score was locked at 13-all.

The Waratahs continued to push in the final minutes, with their best raid coming after full time however Beale’s last gasp drop goal attempt was charged down and both sides shared the points.

The result sees the Waratahs move to 39 points and third on the Super 14 table, one point adrift of the Hurricanes. The Stormers are now in fourth place on 37 points, ahead of the Sharks on points difference.

The Stormers take on the Lions in the final round of competition, while the Waratahs head back to Sydney on Monday before taking on the Queensland Reds in Brisbane next Saturday.

Stormers (5) 13
Tries: Naqelevuki, Human
Pen: Brown

Waratahs (6) 13
Try: Tuqiri
Con: Beale
Pen: Beale (2)

Stormers: Conrad Jantjes, Wylie Human, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (c), Sireli Naqelevuki, Peter Grant, Enrico Januarie, Robbie Diack, Louis-Francois Louw, Luke Watson, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brok Harris, Schalk Brits, Brian Mujati. Reserves: Deon Andre Fourie, Schalk Ferreira, Ross Skeate, Pieter Myburgh, Bolla Conradie, Tony Brown, Dylan Des Fountain

Waratahs: Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Matt Carraro, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (c), Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Adam Freier, Sekope Kepu, Will Caldwell, David Lyons, Brett Sheehan, Sam Norton-Knight, Timana Tahu.