DHL Stormers shut Sale Sharks out
The DHL Stormers scored six unanswered tries on their way to a commanding 40-0 Investec Champions Cup win against Sale Sharks at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
A full house of five points in front of an enthusiastic home crowd means that the DHL Stormers keep their play-off hopes alive ahead of a trip to Paris to face Racing Metro next week.
The visitors made a strong start, dominating territory and possession in the opening exchanges, but the DHL Stormers absorbed the pressure well and managed to keep them out.
The home side nearly scored from their own half, but Wandisile Simelane struggled to control a kick ahead under pressure in front of the tryline.
Simelane was instrumental in the opening try, showing some impressive footwork to put JD Schickerling over on the occasion of the lock’s 50th DHL Stormers cap.
The second try came from right on their own tryline as a clearing kick from scrumhalf Stef Ungerer was caught by Manie Libbok, who raced clear to score.
That saw the DHL Stormers take a 14-0 lead into the break, having impressed on both defence and attack in the opening 40 minutes.
They picked up where they left off after half-time, with the forwards getting in on the act and loosehead prop Sti Sithole powering over from close range.
It was another maul that set up the bonus point try, with fullback Warrick Gelant finishing in the corner after it had been swung wide by Libbok.
The next try was set up by a powerful scrum, with replacement scrumhalf Paul de Wet reaping the rewards as he went over for the fifth try.
There was more power from the big men for the sixth as replacement hooker Andre-Hugo Venter forced his way over from close range to seal a comprehensive win for his team.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Schickerling, Libbok. Sithole, Gelant, De Wet, Venter
Cons: Libbok 4, Du Plessis
For Sale Sharks:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Dave Ewers, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis.
