Leinster deny Stormers a bonus-point win
MATCH REPORT: The Stormers kept their winning run intact with a hard-fought 20-13 win over Leinster at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
It was the eighth consecutive home win for the Stormers and secured their place in the United Rugby Championships play-offs this season with one round to play.
They will finish the regular season with a trip to Wales to face Scarlets on May 21.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
A losing bonus point means that Leinster cannot be caught at the top as they guaranteed themselves a home quarter-final.
The Stormers are also well-placed for a home tie and they were good value for their victory.
Second-half tries by fullback Warrick Gelant and wing Seabelo Senatla put the Stormers in charge, before a penalty try sealed victory.
Leinster had two players sin-binned during the second period, yet they were level after an hour following prop Ed Byrne’s try that Harry Byrne converted, while Ciaran Frawley kicked two earlier penalties.
The Stormers, nine points behind Leinster before kick-off, thought they had gone ahead inside 60 seconds, but centre Ruhan Nel’s touchdown was disallowed for obstruction.
It was an early warning sign for the visitors, though, and they fell behind when Manie Libbok landed a 15th-minute penalty.
Leinster needed to find a way into the game, and they managed it on the back of some outstanding work by number eight Rhys Ruddock, before two Frawley penalties put them 6-3 ahead.
And that proved the end of the scoring during an attritional opening 40 minutes when the Leinster forwards gave as good as they got to leave their hosts frustrated.
The Stormers, though, had hinted at prising open Leinster’s defence before half-time, and they duly stung their opponents with two tries in eight minutes during the third quarter.
The home side were helped by having a temporary one-man advantage when Leinster hooker John McKee was sin-binned for collapsing a maul, but they took maximum advantage.
Gelant crossed for the first score after 45 minutes, then Senatla emulated him as the Stormers opened up a seven-point lead.
It was a worrying period in the game for Leinster, yet they hit back impressively, drawing level on the hour after sustained forward pressure ended with Ed Byrne going over for a try and Harry Byrne converting.
But they were only level for six minutes as referee Craig Evans awarded the Stormers a penalty try after Leinster collapsed a maul and scrumhalf Cormac Foley received a yellow card.
Man of the match: Lock Alex Soroka produced an incredible performance for Leinster, and his try-saving tackle was certainly a highlight of the match. However, for his relentless work at the breakdown, winning a crucial turnover inside his team’s 22 and being a menace in defence our nod goes to Stormers flank Deon Fourie.
The scorers:
For Stormers
Tries: Gelant, Senatla, Penalty try
Pen: Libbok
For Leinster:
Try: E Byrne
Con: H Byrne
Pens: Frawley 2
Yellow cards: John McKee (Leinster, 43 – collapsing the maul), Cormac Foley (Leinster, 66 – collapsing the maul)
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul De Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Juan de Jongh.
Leinster: 15 Max O’Reilly, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Rory O’Loughlin, 11 Rob Russell, 10 Ciarán Frawley, 9 Cormac Foley, 8 Rhys Ruddock (captain), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 John McKee 1 Ed Byrne
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Vakh Abdaladze, 19 Jack Dunne, 20 Seán O’Brien, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Martin Moloney
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) & Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Picture credit: @Stormers
Source: @URCOfficial
