Sloppy Stormers remain unbeaten against plucky Zebre

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers kept their unbeaten start intact in the United Rugby Championship against a plucky Zebre outfit by 31-13 in Parma.

The result keeps the Capetonians at the top of the URC standings after four rounds of the tournament.

The match was scrappy overall, and Zebre showed great defensive grit at times to deny the Stormers.

The Stormers were held up twice over the line and struggled to receive their restarts during both halves of the match.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

After absorbing some pressure from the kick-off, the Stormers were the first to strike with a try in the third minute by Paul de Villiers. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the conversion.

An interception by Mirko Belloni off Warrick Gelant’s pass got Zebre on the scoreboard, which Giacomo Da Re converted in the 20th minute.

The Stormers reclaimed the lead after Feinberg-Mngomezulu regained his own kick and went in under the posts for the try, which he converted himself in the 37th minute.

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The visitors struck first in the second half from close range after numerous attempts as Feinberg-Mngomezulu grabbed a brace in the 46th minute. He sliced the conversion attempt.

The Stormers secured the four-try bonus point in the 57th minute as Feinberg-Mngomezulu put Warrick Gelant in a gap to score. The conversion was successful.

Matteo Nocera also received a yellow card in the 57th minute for repeated scrum infringements.

Zebre won a penalty and opted to kick at goal as Da Re slotted the points in the 62nd minute.

Da Re slotted another penalty in the 66th minute to reduce Zebre’s deficit to 11 points.

Captain Ruhan Nel sealed the deal with an interception try to erase any doubt of the result in the 79th minute.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted the conversion on the 80-minute mark to bring an end to a tough contest.

Scorers

For Zebre:
Try: Belloni
Con: Da Re
Pens: Da Re 2

For the Stormers:
Tries: De Villiers, Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2, Gelant, Nel
Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 3

Yellow card: Matteo Nocera (Zebre, 57′- Repeated scrum infringements)

Teams

Zebre: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Mirko Belloni, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Thomas Dominguez, 8 Giovanni Licata (captain), 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Guido Volpi, 3 Ion Neculai,2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Juan Pitinari, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Franco Carrera, 20 David Odiase, 21 Migael Prinsloo, 22 Marco Zanon, 23 Lorenzo Pani

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 JC Mars, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Filippo Russo (Italy), Lorenzo Pedezzi (Italy)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Image credit: @TheStormers