Photo Credit: Gallo Images
DHL Stormers hosted the Emirates Lions today in Capetown in the last game of Round 2 of the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked. The Stormers has a bye the previous weekend but still managed to win 23-17 after a very good second half.
The first ten minutes both teams were happy to test each other with the Lions happy to spread to ball wide while the Stormers preferred to kick for territory. The Lions opened up an early lead (10-3) after a great try and penalty compared to a penalty by the Stormers. The Stormers showed an early dominance upfront, however, the Lions the better team with the ball in hand and on defence.
An interesting half between two completely different styles of play, in a struggle for dominance of some sort. The Lions still in the lead with 10-6 at halftime in a very even match. The Lions executing their gameplan a bit better than the Stormers did at that stage.
An injury to Sergeal Petersen just before halftime resulted in a reshuffled backline and Tim Swiel coming off the bench into the flyhalf position. This resulted in a Stormers backline that suddenly looked a lot better. An intercept try gave the Stormers (16-10) the lead for the first time of the match and with 20 minutes to go in the match the Stormers started to took control of the match.
A period of pressure from the Stormers on the Lions try-line eventually resulted in Rikus Pretorius' converted try stretching the Stormers lead to 23-10. The Lions, however, was not finished and a try by Elton Jantjies narrowed the gap to 17-23. This try made it game on with 8 minutes to go.
The Lions threw everything they had left at the Stormers during the last few minutes of the game, but could not score the match-winning try. The Stormers controlled most of the second half to win 23-17 against the Lions team who are still looking for the first win of the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked competition.
Scorers:
Emirates Lions: Tries: Rabz Maxwane, Elton Jantjies. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2). Penalty: Elton Jantjies.
DHL Stormers: Tries: Rikus Pretorius, Dan du Plessis. Conversion: Damian Willemse (2). Penalties: Damian Willemse (3)
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Michal Haznar, 23 Tim Swiel.
Emirates Lions: 15. EW Viljoen, 14. Jamba Ulengo, 13. Burger Odendaal, 12. Dan Kriel, 11. Rabz Maxwane, 10. Elton Jantjies (C), 9. Morné van den Berg, 8. Len Massyn, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Marvin Oie, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Wilhelm vd Sluys, 20. MJ Pelser, 21. Hacjivah Dayimani, 22. Ross Cronje, 23. Gianni Lombard 24. Wandisile Simelane, 25. Ruan Dreyer.