DHL Stormers fight back to sink Sunwolves
The DHL Stormers showed great character and composure to fight back and claim a 44-31 victory against the Sunwolves in Singapore on Saturday.
Despite trailing at half-time, the DHL Stormers managed to outscore their hosts by six tries to four in the end and secure their fourth consecutive victory of the season.
The DHL Stormers opened the scoring with a penalty from flyhalf Rob du Preez, but the Sunwolves took the lead soon afterwards as inside centre Derek Carpenter went over for the first try.
The visitors were struck a further blow with flank Rynhardt Elstadt shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle in the build-up to the try and it was not long before they extended their lead to 10-3 with a penalty from flyhalf Jumpei Ogura.
Despite that setback, the DHL Stormers were back on level terms as they produced a fantastic team try which started in their 22 with a searing run from fullback Dillyn Leyds and was finished off with a great pick-up from outside centre EW Viljoen who dived over to score.
The Sunwolves hit back with two quick tries as first wing Shota Emi went over out wide before lock Liaki Moli burst through the middle to score under the posts and take their lead out to 24-10.
The DHL Stormers regrouped and their forwards showed good patience to take it through numerous phases in Sunwolves territory which gave Elstadt the chance to force his way over for their second try.
They followed that up with a Du Preez penalty just before half-time which cut the Sunwolves advantage to 24-20 at the half-time break.
The Sunwolves were first to strike in the second half as Carpenter went over for his second try which put the pressure squarely back on the visitors.
The DHL Stormers then launched an extended period of pressure in opposition territory which eventually resulted in big tighthead prop Wilco Louw powering his way over for their third try which cut the deficit to 31-27 once converted by Du Preez.
The visitors took the lead with 20 minutes left as a strong run from Du Preez gave scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage the opportunity to dart over for their fourth try.
However, they were reduced to 14 men once again soon afterwards when replacement prop Oli Kebble was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
Despite that, the DHL Stormers would have the final say as late tries from hooker Bongi Mbonambi and wing Bjorn Basson sealed the 44-31 victory in the end.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Viljoen, Elstadt, Louw, Duvenage, Mbonambi, Basson
Cons: Du Preez 4
Pens: Du Preez 2
For Sunwolves:
Tries: Carpenter 2, Emi, Moli
Cons: Ogura 4
Pen: Ogura
DHL Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 JD Shickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan du Plessis.
Sunwolves: 15 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, 14 Shota Emi, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Derek Carpenter, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Jumpei Ogura, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Shokei Kin, 6 Ed Quirk (captain), 5 Sam Wykes, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Heiichiro Ito, 2 Yusuke Niwai, 1 Koki Yamamoto.
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Takuma Asahara, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Shumei Matsuhashi, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Hayden Cripps, 23 Ryohei Yamanaka.
