LIVE: DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks

The PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA kicks off at Cape Town Stadium today where the DHL Stormers are up against the Cell C Sharks. Perfect conditions for rugby in Cape Town today; sunny and mild with almost no wind. Looking forward to another classic coastal clash.

The last time these two team met was in over a year ago in Vodacom Super Rugby, with two matches last year being cancelled due to COVID-19.

1 – The PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA is underway with kick-off here at Cape Town Stadium. The DHL Stormers get an early penalty with Pieter-Steph du Toit taken out off the ball. Kade Wolhuter slots to kick to put them 3-0 up.

5 – The DHL Stormers earn a penalty from a maul in their own half and set up a line-out near the 22.

8 – The DHL Stormers backline show some flair early on. It goes wide to Ruhan Nel who breaks the line, Damian Willemse is there in support and puts Herschel Jantjies over for the first try. The conversion from Wolhuter makes it 10-0 after 8 mins.

11 – Sharks on the attack for the first time but it is lost forward so the DHL Stormers have the first scrum. Wolhuter clears it and they win the ball back at the line-out, it goes wide, with Wolhuter stepping and releasing Rikus Pretorius to gallop in for the second try. 17-0 up.

14 – The DHL Stormers will be down to 14 men for the next 20 mins after Seabelo Senatla is shown a red card having run into an opposition player while chasing a high ball. Great defence as Willie Engelbrecht wins a turnover soon afterwards.

16 – DHL Stormers now down to 13 as Willie Engelbrecht is shown a yellow card for a high tackle. The Cell C Sharks manage to force their way over in the corner for a try, which cuts the DHL Stormers’ lead to 17-7.

20 – Down to 13 men, but the scoreboard keeps ticking. Scarra Ntubeni wins a penalty at the breakdown and Kade Wolhuter kicks the points to take the DHL Stormers’ lead out to 20-7.

26 – Three more points from the boot of Kade Wolhuter takes the DHL Stormers lead out to 23-7 as Willie Engelbrecht comes back onto the field. 13 mins until half-time at Cape Town Stadium.

33 – The DHL Stormers defence holds up under pressure and Nama Xaba wins a crucial breakdown penalty in the 22. They maul from the line-out and win another penalty, but Wolhuter puts it wide this time.

36 – The DHL Stormers scrum wins a penalty this time, but Wolhuter pulls another attempt wide.

39 – The Cell C Sharks earn a penalty and kick into the corner. After a few line-outs they scroe through hooker Fez Mbatha.

40 – Half-time at Cape Town Stadium and the DHL Stormers lead 23-12 after an eventful opening 40 mins.

44 – The DHL Stormers go on the attack early on in the second half and push the Sharks all the way back to their tryline, but the Durban side break out and set up an attacking line-out. A quick tap from Reniel Hugo and he goes over for the try which cuts the lead to 23-19.

47 – Willie Engelbrecht is shown a second yellow card for another high tackle and he cannot be replaced for 20 minutes.

50 – Reniel Hugo makes an interception to go over for his second try and give the Sharks the lead for the first time in the match. They are 26-23 up with 30 minutes left to play.

53 – Hugo goes over for his hat-trick try, which takes the Sharks’ lead out to 33-23.

58 – DHL Stormers hammering away at the Sharks line, a few line-outs and a number of phases, but the visitors win a turnover in front of the poles and clear it.

63 – Still a man down, but the DHL Stormers are playing all the rugby in opposition territory, just can’t find a way through. Ruhan Nel scores, but the try is disallowed for a late tackle.

66 – The DHL Stormers still on the attack, it goes out to Edwill van der Merwe and he looks to have scored, but he put a foot in touch.

72 – DHL Stormers have been hammering away at the defence and now finally back to 15. The Cell C Sharks down to 14 after Jeremy Ward is shown a yellow for repeated infringements. 8 mins left to overturn a 10-point deficit.

74 – A strong scrum, neat cross-kick from Abner van Reenen is palmed back by Edwill van der Merwe and Damian Willemse scores to cut the Cell C Sharks lead to 33-30 with 6 mins left. Game in the balance here.

77 – Edge of the seat stuff here. DHL Stormers win a series of penalties as they have a chance to go for the win.

80 – The DHL Stormers get the ball over the line, but Ruhan Nel loses it forward and they go down 33-30 in a tense finish.