The DHL Stormers hosted the Scarlets at the DHL Stadium, Cape Town, looking to continue their great start to the season. The "youngsters" of DHL Stormers surprised many with the energy they started the match and their 22 points lead at the halftime break was enough to secure a brilliant 36-19 bonus-point win.
The first ten minutes were even as both sides had their opportunities on the attack. However, the DHL Stormers upped the pace during the last five minutes of the first quarter which had them score two exciting tries to lead 14-00 with 60 minutes to go.
The DHL Stormers scored another two tries in the second quarter, however, the Scarlets have shown that if they get their hands on quality ball they can be dangerous. The DHL Stormers are in control of the match proving to be almost unstoppable when they started to run at their visitors. The DHL Stormers led 29-07 at the halftime break.
The match is still played at a blistering pace, however, it is the visitors that scored two tries to the one of DHL Stormers. The Scarlets' handling is making life difficult for their hosts as they are threatening at this stage to pull off a brilliant comeback from behind win.
Although there were no points scored in the last quarter of the match it was still played at a great pace, however, mistakes by both teams and sometimes brilliant defence kept the scoreboard from moving. The DHL Stormers te deserved winners with 36-19.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Herschel Jantjies, Leolin Zas, Ernst van Rhyn, Hacjivah Dayimani, Dan du Plessis. Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (4). Penalty: Kade Wolhuter.
Scarlets: Tries: Ryan Conbeer (2), Tom Rogers. Conversions: Dan Jones, Rhys Patchell.
As it happened:
14:20 Herschel Jantjies scored the DHL Stormers' first try of the match. Jantjies sniped from the middle of a collapsed maul to stretch and score. (07-00)
17:49 Leolin Zas scored DHL Stormers' second try. An error by the visitors led to DHL Stormers attacking from within their own half with Zas going over after some great handling by the backline. (14-00)
22:03 Ernst van Rhyn forced his way over the tryline of the visitors, following wave after wave of attacks by the hosts. (19-00)
31:07 Ryan Conbeer scored the Scarlets' first points of the match with a converted try. Conbeer scored the try after some great interplay and passing by the Scarlets' backline. (19-07)
34:55 Hacjivah Dayimani scored the DHL Stormers' fourth and bonus point try. Dayimani broke through two tackles to run 30 meters for a great try. (26-07)
40:00 Kade Wolhuter converted a penalty for the DHL Stormers to close out the first half. (29-07)
41:54 Dan du Plessis scored the fifth try after running an amazing angle to cut through the defence of the Scarlets like a hot knife through butter. (36-07)
49:15 The brilliant and patient attack by the Scarlets created an overlap for Tom Rogers to score the second try for the visitors in the corner. (36-14)
53:07 Ryan Conbeer scored the Scarlets' third try. The Scarlets stepped up the pace and are finding gaps out wide against the hesitant defence of the DHL Stormers. (36-19)
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Angelo Davids, 13. Cornel Smit, 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Leolin Zas, 10. Kade Wolhuter, 9. Paul de Wet, 8. Hacjivah Dayimani, 7. Marcel Theunissen, 6. Junior Pokomela, 5. Gary Porter, 4. Ernst van Rhyn (c), 3. Neethling Fouche, 2. Joseph Dweba, 1. Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Leon Lyons, 18. Sazi Sandi, 19. Connor Evans, 20. Ben-Jason Dixon, 21. Nama Xaba, 22. Herschel Jantjies, 23. Jean-Luc du Plessis.
Scarlets: 15. Johnny McNicholl; 14. Tom Rogers, 13. Jonathan Davies (c), 12. Scott Williams, 11. Ryan Conbeer, 10. Dan Jones, 9. Gareth Davies, 8. Sione Kalamafoni, 7. Dan Davis, 6. Aaron Shingler, 5. Tom Price, 4. Sam Lousi, 3. Harri O’Connor, 2. Daf Hughes, 1. Steff Thomas. Replacements: 16. Taylor Davies, 17. Kemsley Mathias, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Blade Thomson, 20. Tomás Lezana, 21. Archie Hughes, 22. Rhys Patchell, 23. Steff Evans.
