VIDEO: Stormers dent Sharks' play-off hopes
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Stormers outplayed the Sharks to end their season on a winning note.
They also put a massive dent in the Sharks’ hopes of reaching the play-offs, beating the Durban-based franchise 27-16 at Newlands on Saturday.
It was a disappointing match for the Sharks, who arrived in Cape Town with high hopes of closing the gap on the Jaguares and the Lions in the South African conference.
However, they now have to beat the Jaguares next week – and hope the Highlanders beat the Rebels – to sneak into the top eight and claim a play-off spot.
For the Stormers it was a consolation win to yet another bitterly disappointing season – which has them sitting in 12th place after having completed their season.
It was the sixth victory at home for the Stormers, who outscored their coastal rivals by three tries to one.
The home side were dominant in the first half, scoring three converted tries to the Sharks’ three penalties.
The visitors opened the scoring with a penalty from flyhalf Rob du Preez, but the Stormers responded with the opening try – after Josh Stander had put Damian de Allende through the gap, with the centre finding lock Cobus Wiese on his inside to gallop over and score.
The Sharks responded with two more penalties from Du Preez, which gave them a brief 9-7 lead, but the Stormers hit back with two more tries.
They took the lead back through centre EW Viljoen, who went over out wide after the forwards had come within inches of scoring.
They were not done there as a bit of magic from Dillyn Leyds in his 50th Stormers game put Sikhumbuzo Notshe in some space and Raymond Rhule was on hand to score the third try.
All three tries were converted by Stander to give the Stormers a healthy 21-9 advantage at the break.
The Durban side got over the tryline early in the second half, with replacement wing Kobus van Wyk going over for the try to make it 21-16.
Both teams threw everything at each other to try and gain the ascendency and it would be the Stormers to score next, as Stander kicked a penalty to give them an eight-point advantage heading into the final 15 minutes.
Stander added another penalty just before full-time to seal the 27-16 win and end the Stormers’ 2018 campaign on a high at Newlands.
Man of the match: Phillip Van Der Walt & Jacques Vermeulen were the Sharks’ most productive players. Young utility forward Cobus Wiese proved invaluable to the Stormers and was rewarded with one of the Stormers’ three tries. However, our award goes to young flyhalf Joshua Stander – a late replacement and producing a mature and accomplished performance in his first Super Rugby start.
The scorers:
For the Stormers:
Tries: Wiese, Viljoen, Rhule
Cons: Stander 3
Pens: Stander 2
For the Sharks:
Try: Van Wyk
Con: R du Preez
Pens: R du Preez 3
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Teams:
Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Jan de Klerk, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Jacobus Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 John Schickerling, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Josh Stander, 23 Craig Barry.
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Mahlatse Ralepelle, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Jacobus van Wyk.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa), Archie Sehlako (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
