The DHL Stormers maintained their standing as the top-placed domestic franchise in the competition after a bonus-point win against the visiting Ospreys with 29-13.
An exciting first five minutes and two tries by the Stormers had the hosts in the lead with 14-00. The next 30 minutes was an extremely physical battle as the two sides tried to establish some dominance. With two minutes to go in the first half, Manie Libbok once again showed his brilliance, resulting in a great try by Leolin Zas who is proving extremely difficult to stop.
The second half did not see a lot of action with a solitary try by the Stormers the only points added to the scoreboard before the Ospreys scored a consolation try with the time up on the scoreboard.
02:28 Gareth Anscombe scored the Ospreys' first points with a converted penalty. (00-03)
04:26 A brilliant Manie Libbok created the opportunity for Paul de Wet to score the Stormers' first try of the match. (07-03)
08:22 Champagne rugby by the Stormers, with Adre Smith finishing off going over under the sticks for the Stormers' second try. (14-03)
17:55 Gareth Anscombe converted the visitors' second penalty. (14-06)
20:00 The Stormers scored two unanswered tries within the first eight minutes of the match. Thereafter the Ospreys settled in and the rest of the first quarter was an arm wrestle as both sides were looking to establish some sort of dominance.
26:47 Leolin Zas bulldozed his way to the Stormers' third try after a great break by Manie Libbok once again started the movement that ended in the try. (19-06)
39:17 Manie Libbok converted a penalty for the Stormers. (22-06)
40:00 An exciting first five minutes and two tries by the Stormers had the hosts in the lead with 14-00. Both sides tried to establish some dominance resulting in a physical battle, with not many opportunities to attack. Manie Libbok once again showed his brilliance two minutes before the halftime break, resulting in a great try by Leolin Zas who is proving extremely difficult to stop.
54:01 Leolin Zas collected his own chip to go over for the bonus point try for the Stormers. (29-06)
No real excitement in the third quarter, with several unforced errors made by both sides on the attack as well as the defence. No momentum at this stage from either side.
65:19 Leolin Zas (Stormers) was shown a yellow card.
70:00 A second yellow card is shown to the Stormers.
80:07 Max Nagy scored the Ospreys' only try of the match. (29-13)
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Paul de Wet, Adre Smith, Leolin Zas (2). Conversions: Manie Libbok (3). Penalty: Manie Libbok.
Ospreys: Try: Max Nagy. Conversion: Gareth Anscombe. Penalties: Gareth Anscombe (2).
Teams
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Sergeal Petersen.
Ospreys: 15. Dan Evans, 14. Alex Cuthbert, 13. Michael Collins, 12. Owen Watkin, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Rhys Webb (c), 8. Morgan Morris, 7. Jac Morgan, 6. Dan Lydiate, 5. Adam Beard, 4. Bradley Davies, 3. Tomas Francis, 2. Dewi Lake, 1. Gareth Thomas. Replacements: 16. Sam Parry, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Tom Botha, 19. Rhys Davies, 20. Ethan Roots, 21. Harri Deaves, 22. Reuben Morgan Williams, 23. Max Nagy.