Sharks edge DHL Stormers at DHL Newlands

The DHL Stormers went down 18-13 to the Cell C Sharks in a hard-fought Vodacom Super Rugby clash at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

A late try from Joe Pietersen saw the Durban side clinch victory in the final stages, handing the DHL Stormers their first defeat of the season, although they did claim a bonus point for their efforts.

The opening exchanges were brutally physical, with both teams climbing into one another and little quarter given either way.

The DHL Stormers broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when Kurt Coleman slotted an easy penalty following a dangerous tackle from Daniel du Preez, and the Sharks responded soon afterwards as Joe Pietersen landed his first kick to level it up at 3-3.

The home side were enjoying the majority of territory and possession, and they were eventually rewarded when Leolin Zas got on the end of a deft chip from Cheslin Kolbe and controlled the ball brilliantly close to the touchline to go in for the try.

Coleman added the conversion from the touchline, which sent the DHL Stormers into the half-time break with a 10-3 advantage.

The Sharks struck first in the second half through a penalty try which saw Siya Kolisi shown a yellow card for a cynical infringement.

That brought the scores level at 10-10, and neither side was able to score in Kolisi’s time off the park which made it anyone’s game with 20 minutes left to play.

The Sharks took the lead with another Pietersen penalty, but the DHL Stormers hit back with five minutes to play through Coleman which levelled things up again.

The final blow came from a break by JP Pietersen, who put his namesake and flyhalf over for the try.

The scorers:

For DHL Stormers:
Try: Zas
Con: Coleman
Pens: Coleman 2

For Cell C Sharks:
Tries: Penalty try, Pietersen
Con: Pietersen
Pens: Pietersen 2

DHL Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Juan de Jongh (co-captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe (co-captain), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Huw Jones.

Cell C Sharks: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira (captain).
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Hyron Andrew, 20 Philip van der Walt, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Garth April, 23 Sibusiso Sithole.

Referee: Mike Fraser