Chiefs prevail in DHL Newlands battle
The DHL Stormers went down 15-9 against the Chiefs in a tense game dominated by defence at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
It was the first defeat at DHL Newlands this season for the DHL Stormers, who were in the contest right up until the final whistle but could not get over the line against the team from Hamilton.
The first half was a tight affair, with each side scoring just once in a tense opening 40 minutes dominated by defence.
The DHL Stormers took the game to the opposition early on, taking the ball through numerous phases without getting any reward early on.
The first points eventually came after 15 minutes, when DHL Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse slotted a penalty.
Centre Damian de Allende looked to be over for the opening try before having the ball knocked out of his grasp and instead it was the Chiefs who would get over the whitewash with centre Anton Lienert-Brown claiming a cross-kick that sat up perfectly for him.
That saw the visitors take a slender 5-3 advantage into half-time, which meant that it was anybody’s game in the second half.
The DHL Stormers went back in front after 10 minutes in the second half, with another Willemse penalty which was brought about by some hard work at the breakdown.
Chiefs flyhalf Damian McKenzie had missed an earlier shot at goal, but Willemse made no such mistake to put the DHL Stormers 6-5 up.
Following a series of attacking scrums, referee Mike Fraser decided to award the Chiefs a penalty try, which gave them a 12-6 advantage heading into the final 15 minutes.
The teams traded penalties in the final stages which was enough to seal victory for the visitors, handing the DHL Stormers their first defeat at DHL Newlands this season.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers:
Pens: Willemse 2, Marais
For Chiefs:
Tries: Lienert-Brown, penalty try
Pen: McKenzie
DHL Stormers: 15 SP Marais, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Seabelo Senatla.
Chiefs: 15 Charlie Ngatai (captain), 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Fa’auli, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Liam Messam, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Pita Gus Sowakula, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Shaun Stevenson.
