The DHL Stormers secured the fifth spot on the URC log with a 29-24 win over the Emirates Lions who could still qualify for the URC playoffs depending on other results today.
The Lions opened the scoring with a Jordan Hendriks penalty to lead 03-00, whereafter the Stormers set up camp in the 22m of the Emirates Lions. After six minutes of play in the first half, Andre-Hugo Venter scored the Stormers' first try off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to lead 07-03.
Minutes later Jordan Hendrikse converted a penalty reducing the Stormers' lead to one point. The Emirates Lions started to take control of the match and a team try scored by Francke Horn extended the Lions' lead to 12-06 with twenty minutes still to play in the first half.
The Stormers patiently built up pressure on the Lions 22m and following some brilliant handling by the hosts Angelo Davids scored in the corner to retake the lead for the Stormers.
A try by JC Pretorius from the back of a five-meter lineout-maul and a converted penalty by Jordan Hendrikse secured a 21-12 Lions lead going into the halftime break.
A converted penalty by Manie Libbok reduced the Lions' lead to 21-15, whereafter, Evan Roos ripped the ball from a maul to bulldoze his way to a thirty-meter try, putting the Stormers back into the lead by 22-21.
The Lions were rewarded for their dominance with a converted penalty by Jordan Hendrikse with six minutes to play in the match.
However, Adre Smith bulldozed his way over the visitor's tryline with minutes to go, securing the Stormers' bonus-point try and fifth place on the URC table. The Stormers beat a game Lions 29-24.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Andre-Hugo Venter, Angelo Davids, Evan Roos, Adre Smith. Conversion: Manie Libbok (3). Penalty: Manie Libbok.
Emirates Lions: Tries: Francke Horn, JC Pretorius. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse. Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse (4).
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Evan Roos, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Ben Loader.
Emirates Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Jordan Hendrikse, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Willem Alberts (c), 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Reinhard.