The DHL Stormers secured their second place on the United Rugby Championship Log with a bonus-point try against a disciplined Dragons RFC, who made the DHL Stormers work hard for every point scored.
It took the Stormers nine minutes and some bling by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to score the first try of the match. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted his own try to extend the Stormers’ lead to 07-00.
The Stormers continued to apply pressure, and brilliant interplay between Imad Han and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu led to Feinberg-Mngomezulu scoring his second try, which he converted to extend the Stormers' lead to 14-00 after seventeen minutes of play in the first half.
The Dragons clawed their way back into the match, and Seb Davies scored after twenty-five minutes of play in the first half. Angus O’Brien converted to cut the Stormers' lead to 14-07, which was also the halftime score.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted a penalty early in the second half to extend the Stormers’ lead to ten points.
Despite dominating posession and territory, the Stormers were frustrated by the defence of the Dragons, which led to the Stormers making several unforced errors on the attack.
After nine minutes of play, Evan Roos picked up the ball at the back of a dominant scrum and bulldozed his way over for the Stormers' third try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to extend the Stormers' lead to 24-07.
The Dragons replied immediately, and Thomas Young crashed over for their second try of the match. Angus O’Brien converted to cut the Stormers' lead to 24-14.
The Stormers upped the pace of their attack, and a grubber by Wandisile Simelane bounced cruelly for a Dragons defender, enabling Simelane to collect the ball and crash over, scoring the Stormers’ fourth and bonus-point try. The Stormers led 29-14 after twenty minutes of play in the second half.
The Dragons launched wave after wave of attacks, and the following ten minutes were dominated by the Dragons until Rio Dyer slipped through a gap to score their third try. Angus O’brien converted to cut the Stormers’ lead to 29-21, which was the full-time score.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Evan Roos, Wandisile Simelane. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Dragons RFC: Tries: Seb Davies, Thomas Young, Rio Dyer. Conversion: Angus O’Brien (3).
Teams
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Dragons RFC: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Angus O’Brien (c), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Harrison Keddie, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Jordan Morris. Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Owain James, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Niall Armstrong, 22 Jac Lloyd, 23 Fine Inisi.
