DHL Stormers take Eagles down in George
The DHL Stormers scored nine tries to pick up a convincing 57-14 victory against South Western Districts Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday.
In a pre-season friendly that was played in rainy conditions, the visiters scored three tries in the first half and a further six after half-time to claim a morale-boosting victory.
The first blow was struck by hooker Chad Solomon who gave his team an early 5-0 lead and things got even tougher for South Western Districts when scrumhalf Boela Abrahams was shown a yellow card soon afterwards.
The DHL Stormers forwards worked hard in the wet and they were rewarded with a try to tighthead prop Frans van Wyk, before the home side got on the scoreboard through a try from wing Charles Radebe.
However, it would be the DHL Stormers who had the final say in the first half as lock Cobus Wiese went over for a try which gave them a 19-7 advantage at half-time after it was converted by flyhalf Damian Willemse.
If the forwards had set the platform in the first half, the backs started getting in on the act in the second half as Cheslin Kolbe and captain Dillyn Leyds crossed for tries soon after half-time.
DHL Stormers Head Coach Robbie Fleck made a host of changes in an effort to give all 30 players a run, but that did not influence their momentum as Carlu Sadie, Daniel Maree and Justin Phillips all got their name on the scoresheet before the home side were able to come up with a late consolation try from replacement Justin Bhana.
Season ticket renewals and sales for DHL Newlands in 2017 are open. Go to wprugby.computicket.com to secure your seat today.
Tickets for the pre-season friendly between the DHL Stormers and the Emirates Lions on Saturday, February 11 at DHL Newlands are also on sale from wprugby.computicket.com for R50 general entry and R10 for scholars seating.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Solomon, Van Wyk, Wiese, Kolbe, Leyds, Coetzee, Sadie, Phillips, Maree
Cons: Willemse 3, Coleman 3
For SWD Eagles:
Tries: Radebe, Bhana
Cons: Welthagen, Moos
DHL Stormers: Juarno Augustus, Eital Bredenkamp, David Brits, Jaco Coetzee, Kurt Coleman, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Harlon Klaasen, Cheslin Kolbe, Dan Kriel, Dillyn Leyds (captain), Wilco Louw, Godlen Masimla, SP Marais, Daniel Maree, Dean Muir, Khanyo Ngcukana, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Caylib Oosthuizen, Justin Phillips, Carlu Sadie, Marcello Sampson, JD Schickerling, Marnus Schoeman, Chad Solomon, Reuben Terblanche, Frans van Wyk, EW Viljoen, Cobus Wiese, Damian Willemse, Eduard Zandberg.
SWD Eagles: 15 Leighton Eksteen, 14 Shadward Fillies, 13 Kirsten Heyns, 12 Wilneth Engelbrecht, 11 Charles Radebe, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Christo du Plessis, 7 Devon Raubenheimer, 6 Janneman Stander (captain), 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Hardus Coetzee, 3 Basil Short, 2 Kelvin Fikster, 1 Juandre Digue.
Replacements: 16 Teunis Niewoudt, 17 Brendan Haas, 18 Anton Smit, 19 Tiaan Weyers, 20 Devron Jansen, 21 Freginald Africa, 22 Gerswin Muller, 23 Arden Wesso, 24 Dillon Snell, 25 Lorenzo Gordan, 26 Rudi Michaels, 27 Quade Langeveld, 28 Justin Bhana, 29 Gideon Lambrecht, 30 Leegan Moos, 31 Rupino Plaatjies.
