Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
The DHL Stormers hosted the Lions at the Cape Town Stadium and won with surprising ease 44-12.
A blitzkrieg with three tries scored by the Stormers saw them leading with 21-00 after only 18 minutes. After that, the Lions were never in the game and the 12 points scored during the last ten minutes of the game.
00:28 Herschel Jantjies scored a great try for the Stormers as the Lions could not master a great kick-off from Abner van Reenen. (07-00)
15:12 Seabela Senatla score a try with a good ten Stormers handling the ball before the try was scored which started on the halfway line. (14-00)
18:12 Seabelo Senatla magic send Herschel Jantjies to score his second try. The defence of the Lions at this stage no match for the handling and footwork of the Stormers. (21-0)
20:00 At this stage the Stormers backline is threatening every time they touched the ball. The Lions depending on their forwards' power to create opportunities.
25:07 Abner van Reenen convert an easy penalty to stretch their lead. (24-00)
40:00 The Lions clawed their way back into the game
47:25 The Stormers scored their fourth try. A 5m line-out saw Bongo Mbonambi at the back of the maul going over. (31-00)
60:00 The Stormers at this stage of the match happy to revert back to a conservative gameplan. The penalties earned from their dominant forwards enough to keep the scoreboard ticking.
60:48 Abner converted his second penalty of the match. (34-00)
64:45 Abner van Reenen converted a dropkick. The defence of the Lions kept the Stormers from scoring for several minutes and the dropkick an excellent option. (37-00)
69:43 MJ Pelser go over for the Lions first try. The Lions showed a lot of patience to score their opening try after 70 minutes of play. (37-05)
72:35 Ruan Nel scored after a blunder by the Lions after they started to run from within 5meters from their scoreline. (44-05)
75:34 A penalty Try against the Stormers. (44-12)
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Herschell Jantjies (2), Seabelo Senatla, Bongi Mbonambi, Ruan Nel. Conversions: Abner van Reenen (5). Penalty: Abner van Reenen (2). Dropkick: Abner van Reenen.
Lions: Try: MJ Pelser, Penalty Try.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 JD Schikerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements (from): 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 David Meehuizen, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Lyle Hendricks, 24 Chad Solomon, 25 Cornel Smit.
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Ruan Dreyer. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 MJ Pelser, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Burger Odendaal.