The DHL Stormers continued their impressive home form with a 48-12 victory over the Dragons RFC in the United Rugby Championship in Cape Town.
Stormers’ only loss at DHL Stadium this season was by a single point to the Bulls in February, and they never looked likely to surrender that impressive record with a display based on power and speed.
But they were made to work hard by Filo Tiatia’s men who produced a well drilled and strong defensive show for well over an hour after the Head Coach had asked for a display that showed character.
The home side enjoyed a dream start as centre Wandisile Simelane was sent flying through a midfield gap from the first attack and he cut back inside the final man for a converted score after less than two minutes.
The Stormers' set piece was getting on top with referee Piardi issuing a warning that a card would soon follow unless action was taken.
Stormers clicked four minutes before the break when they worked space and Joseph Dweba produced a lovely offload to send Seabelo Senatla over in the corner.
They scored another try two minutes later as slick handling sent Willemse over. But the TMO ruled it out for a croc roll on Lewis-Hughes, with the officials yellow-carding home captain Salmaan Moerat.
In-form Stormers edged to a 14-0 lead at the halftime break.
Dragons started the second half with Langton-Cryer breaking the line before O’Brien’s pass sent Anderson away, before he failed to find Rhodri Williams with the offload. A penalty at scrum time saw Dragons take a quick tap, and the play paid off with Wainwright driven over with Carter for support.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu edged Stormers further ahead with half an hour to play with a penalty, which also took time off the clock with the home side still a man down.
The Stormers struck almost immediately again as a lineout steal saw Theunissen break away and the move was finished off by scrum half Stefan Ungerer for a 22-05 lead.
The bonus point followed before the hour when, on the back of a powerful scrum, Damian Willemse grabbed a try on his 100th game.
A breakout by the Dragons saw the returning Lloyd Evan and Hewitt look to create space before a kick in behind won a five-metre scrum. Owen then cut a sublime line before the alert Blacker dotted down from close range.
Replacement Suleiman Hartzenberg finished off more slick handling out wide before late scores from De Wet and Simelane secured the Stormers a 48-12 win.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Wandisile Simelane (2), Seabelo Senatla, Stefan Ungerer, Damian Willemse, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Paul de Wet. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3), Damian Willemse (2). Penalties: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Dragons RFC: Tries: Aaron Wainwright, Dane Blacker. Conversion: Lloyd Evans.
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Dragons RFC: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Harry Rees-Weldon, 13 Harry Wilson, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Angus O’Brien (cc), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Dan Lydiate, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ryan Woodman, 4 Ben Carter (cc), 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rhodri Jones. Replacements: 16 James Benjamin, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Barny Langton-Cryer, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Lloyd Evans, 23 Ashton Hewitt.