Stormers fight back to sink Lions

 

A late Siya Kolisi try was enough for the Cape side to continue their unbeaten start to the season and pile more misery on the Lions who are still yet to win a game.

 

The Stormers were frustrated by a committed defensive display from the Lions who put them under serious pressure at the breakdown throughout and regularly disrupted their line-out ball, but held their nerve when it counted to claim a valuable four log points on the road.

 

The opening exchanges were tense with neither side giving much away and the hosts drew first blood with an early Elton Jantjies penalty.

 

After absorbing an extended attack from the Stormers and turning the ball over in their 22 the Lions made their way steadily upfield before flank Warwick Tecklenburg got over for the first try which put them 10-0 up.

 

The Stormers surged into opposition territory in response and got over the tryline twice as both Steven Kishoff and Nic Groom were held up, and after a few attacking scrums they eventually took the points through a Demetri Catrakilis penalty.

 

The Stormers flyhalf added another shortly afterwards when his opposite number Jantjies was blown up for obstruction, and they were soon within a point of the Lions when Catrakilis slotted his third penalty after a powerful scrum.

 

However, the Lions had the final say of the first half with another Jantjies penalty giving them a 13-9 advantage at half-time which was well-deserved considering how well they had defended.

 

The home side started the second half in the same way they ended the first – with a Jantjies penalty – and they managed to maintain that seven-point lead as the teams exchanged further penalties.

 

Both teams brought on brand new front rows simultaneously and the Lions were blown up twice for scrumming inwards which saw Catrakilis slot another penalty to cut the Lions' lead to 19-15 with 15 minutes left to play.

 

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the match with just minutes remaining as they backed their misfiring line-out, and Kolisi crashed over from the driving maul.

 

The Lions threw everything at them in the closing exchanges, as the game went deep into extra time, but it was not to be as the Stormers hung on for the win.

 

Man of the match: Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies controlled the game well and their loose forwards caused havoc at the breakdown but our award goes to Damian de Allende who put his body on the line throughout.

 

 

Try: Tecklenburg

Con: Jantjies

Pens: Jantjies 4

 

Try: Kolisi

Con: Coleman

Pens: Catrakilis 5

 

 

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Howard Mnisi.

 

Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones.

 

Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)

Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)

TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)