Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
The Emirates Lions hosted DHL Stormers at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday. Both teams were still looking for their first win of the 2021 Pro14 Rainbow Cup. The Stormers scored 10 points in the last 6 minutes to win 39-37 as the Stormers' bench again prove to be match winners.
The Stormers started the game on the front foot dominating the early stages of the game.
05:32 Abner van Reenen convert a penalty for the Stormers (00-30)
09:32 Jordan Hendrikse levels the score with a converted penalty (03-03).
12:47 Wandisile Simelane intercepts a ball on the Stormers' scoreline after the Stormers tried to run from their scoreline (10-03).
17:55 Dan du Plessis scored after a sustained period of pressure by the Stormers. An intercept by Jantjies on his own 22m resulted in Stormers' possession in the Lions 22m. (10-08)
21:30 MJ Pelser finish a long-distance try after several players handled the ball. Great interplay after Warner collected his kick from his own 22m. (17-08)
31:28 Bongi Mbonambi score from the back of a driving maul. This was the Stormers 3rd or 4th attempt to maul over from a 5m line-out (17-15).
37:57 EW Viljoen rounds of a sweeping movement after great handling set up Viljoen's run of 30m (22-15).
The game was still balanced of a knife's edge with both teams not scared to run from anywhere. The Lions' scrums were dominant at that stage.
44:04 As with the start of the game the Stormers attacked from the kick-off. Marcel Theunissen broke through several poor tackles by the Lions. (22-22)
51:46 A relentless period of attack by the Lions allowed Andre Warner to sneak through at the edge of the maul. (29-22)
58:45 Edwill van der Merwe outstrips the Lions' defenders with his blistering speed to level the score once again (29-29).
With 20 minutes to go both teams sent on several replacements. The Stormers immediately earned a penalty at the scrum and their increased intensity is visible.
69:57 Jordan Hendrikse second converted penalty gave the Lions the lead. (32-29)
73:49 Rabz Maxwane scored the Lions 5th try after a great break by replacement scrumhalf Morné van den Berg. Maxwane ran 50m to score his first try of the match (37-29).
76:51 The game has opened up completely as the Stormers scored their fifth try of the match. Another long-distance effort as Dan du Plessis scored his second try (37-36).
82:39 Both teams deserved the win as both teams were willing to run from everywhere. The Lions had to kill the game with 2 minutes to go. Unfortunately for the Lions, they conceded a penalty with seconds to go. A converted penalty by Tim Swiel secured the win for the Stormers (37-39).
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Try: Dan du Plessis (2), Bongi Mbonambi, Marcel Theunissen, Edwill van der Merwe. Conversions: Abner van Reenen (4). Penalty: Abner van Reenen, Tim Swiel.
Emirates Lions: Try: Wandisile Simelane, MJ Pelser, EW Viljoen, Andre Warner, Rabz Maxwane. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (3). Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse (2).
Emirates Lions: 15. EW Viljoen; 14. Rabz Maxwane, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Burger Odendaal (captain), 11. Courtnall Skosan; 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. André Warner; 8. Francke Horn, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. MJ Pelser, 5. Reinhard Nothnagel, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16. PJ Botha, 17. Ruan Dreyer, 18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Emmanuel Tshituka, 21. Morné van den Berg, 22. Fred Zeilinga, 23. Dan Kriel
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Juarno Augustus, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tim Swiel.