Cardiff’s historic season came to a brave end as they put up a stirring fight before ultimately going down to defeat in this URC quarter-final clash in Cape Town.

They took an early lead through a breakaway try from full-back Cam Winnett and then, after trailing 21-7 at the break, they cut the deficit to just five points through touchdowns from back row duo Taine Basham and James Botham.

In the end, they were outscored by six tries to three by the Stormers who capitalised on yellow cards to props Keiron Assiratti and Javan Sebastian as they secured the win which takes them through to next weekend’s semi-finals.

But Cardiff can hold their heads up high, both after this gutsy performance and an excellent season which saw them reach the URC play-offs for the first time.

They had clinched a place in the knockout stages with a 22-16 victory over the Stormers on a memorable night at the Arms Park a fortnight ago.

That saw them finish sixth in the league table and with the South Africans ending up in third, it meant the two sides would meet again in the quarter-finals, this time in Cape Town.

Cardiff showed four changes for the rematch, with winger Josh Adams and lock Josh McNally returning from injury and RAF duty respectively, while Rhys Barratt and Keiron Assiratti came into the front row amid prop rotation.

When the game got underway in front of a crowd of 30,595, it was the visitors who put together the first meaningful attack with McNally hauled down just short after being fed by Botham.

It was then the Stormers’ turn to come close as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s cross-kick narrowly eluded onrushing winger Leolin Zas.

Both teams continued to probe away, with Ioan Lloyd – at No 10 again in the absence of the injured Callum Sheedy – producing a searing break off a lineout.

Then, on 19 minutes, came the game’s opening score and what a moment it was for Cardiff and their supporters wherever they were watching the game.

It was the Stormers who were actually on the attack and threatening to claim the first points following a quick tap penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

But when scrum-half Imad Khan flipped up a pass some eight metres from the line, winger Jacob Beetham was there to intercept one handed.

He pinned back his ears and set-off, feeding Winnett just before half-way, enabling the full-back to run in unopposed, with Lloyd adding the conversion from wide out.

However, the Stormers soon responded with a converted try of their own off a lineout maul drive, with the officials deciding that hooker Andre-Hugo Venter had reached the whitewash.

Five minutes later, they took the lead through another score off a close range lineout with prop Ntuthuko Mchunu – the Player of the Match – thundering through after a leap from flanker Ben-Jason Dixon.

With penalties mounting against Cardiff, they were reduced to 14 men when tighthead Assiratti was yellow carded for a scrum offence.

The Stormers looked to have capitalised immediately when their skipper Ruhan Nel crossed the line, but he was denied by superb work from Dan Thomas who got underneath the centre to prevent him from getting the ball down.

But straight from the resulting goal-line drop out, the hosts struck as full-back Damian Willemse gave a one-handed pass to winger Zas who broke a tackle and raced over out on the left.

Fly-half Feinberg-Mngomezulu added his third successful conversion to make it 21-7 at the break.

When the game resumed, Cardiff – now back to 15 following Assiratti’s return – swiftly cut the deficit with a score started and finished by Basham.

First the No 8 cut through in midfield ahead of Lloyd putting in a grubber which forced Zas to carry the ball over his own line.

Then, from the resulting five metre scrum, Basham picked up at the base and stepped inside flanker Paul de Villiers before riding the tackle of Khan to get the ball down.

Lloyd slotted the conversion to reduce the deficit to seven points, but then, a few minutes later, his cross kick was picked off by winger Seabolo Senata who sent Feinberg-Mngomezulu away to the line.

On the hour mark, Cardiff hit back again with flanker Botham forcing his way over after a couple of forward carries off a George Nott lineout take.

Lloyd again converted to, this time, cut the gap to just five points as the game moved into the final quarter.

But the visitors were then reduced to 14 men for the second occasion through the sin-binning of a tighthead, with Sebastian the man to be carded this time.

Once again, the Stormmers turned to the driving maul to capitalise with De Villiers rounding off the concerted forward surge from a lineout.

Replacement fly-half Jurie Matthee stretched their lead with a penalty and they made the game safe three minutes from time when another sub, hooker JJ Kotze, went over for their sixth try.