The DHL Stormers had to desperately hang on to secure a 34-27 win during the final twenty minutes of the match against the Lions in Cape Town. The Lions were in control until the Stormers' bomb squad scored three unanswered tries in the third quarter to secure the win.
An early knock on from Evan Roos from the kickoff was pounced on by the Lions, who scored when Ruan Venter buldozed his way over the tryline for the Lions' first try. Chris Smith converted to extend the Lions' lead to 07-00 after just two minutes of play in the first half.
Fifteen minutes later, Evan Roos was caught offside. Chris Smith converted the resulting penalty to extend the Lions' lead to 10-00.
After twenty-five minutes of play, the Stormers clawed their way back into the match, and brilliant work by Warrick Gelant put Dylan Maart into space to score a long-distance try. Jurie Matthee converted to cut the Lions’ lead to three minutes.
With two minutes to play, Jurie Matthee converted a penalty for the Stormers to level the scores 10-10.
However, the Lions struck back immediately when Ruan Venter scored off the back of a five-meter lineout maul, which Chris Smith converted. The Lions led 17-10 going into the first half break.
An unlucky bounce off an aimless kick by Quan Horn found the hands of Cobus Reinach, who spread the ball wide, and eventually Wandisile Simelane crashed over for the Stormers second try of the match. Jurie Matthee converted to level the scores once again after two minutes of play in the second half.
Ten minutes later, JD Schickerling scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul. Jurie Matthee converted to extend the Stormers' lead to 24-17.
Three minutes later, Ntuthuko Mchunu went offside at a ruck, and Chris Smith converted his second penalty to cut the Stormers’ lead to 24-20.
Jurie Matthee converted his third penalty with twenty minutes to play in the second half.
With the Stormers bomb squad in control, it was Evan Roos who barged his way over the tryline to score the Stormers' fourth and bonus-point try to extend the Stormers lead to 34-20 following the conversion by Jurie Matthee.
A great grubber by Quan Horn gave Kelly Mpeku the space to fall on the ball in the Stormers' goal area. Chris Smith was on target with the conversion, and cut the Stormers' lead to 34-27 and ten minutes still to play in the second half.
The Stormers held on to secure the 34-27 win.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Dylan Maart, Wandisile Simelane, JD Schickerling, Evan Roos. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (4). Penalties: Jurie Matthee (3).
Lions: Tries: Ruan Venter (2), Kelly Mpeku. Conversions: Chris Smith (3). Penalties: Chris Smith (2).
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Richard Kriel.