DHL Stormers hold off Jaguares at DHL Newlands

The DHL Stormers showed great character to secure a 32-25 victory against the Jaguares at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

It was a second victory in as many weeks at DHL Newlands for the hosts, who outscored the team from Argentina by four tries to three.

The DHL Stormers made all of the early mrunning as they took the game to the visitors, but it was the Jaguares who scored first through a long-range penalty from fullback Joaquín Tuculet.

The DHL Stormers hit back with a penalty from the boot of flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis, but the Jaguares took the lead back when captain Agustin Creevy crashed over for the opening try from a maul.

The DHL Stormers hit back with two quickfire tries of their own to take control of the match as first centre EW Viljoen and then scrumhalf Jano Vermaak got over the tryline.

Viljoen’s try was born from an inside ball from fullback SP Marais which put wing Dillyn Leyds in a hole before it was worked out to Viljoen who scored under the poles.

Viljoen played a central role in the next try shortly afterwards as he won a high ball which found its way to Vermaak who raced away to score in the corner.

The Jaguares would have the final say in the first half with a penalty from flyhalf Nicolás Sánchez, but it was the DHL Stormers who took a 17-11 advantage into the break.

The DHL Stormers struck first in the second half with a Du Plessis penalty, but the Jaguares hit back with a try to wing Santiago Cordero to cut the DHL Stormers lead to 20-18.

The visitors were reduced to 13 men when first flank Pablo Matero and then replacement Matías Moroni were shown yellow cards and the result was a penalty try following a strong scrum from the home side.

However, the Jaguares would be next to score as Cordero got over for his second try to reduce the DHL Stormers lead to 27-25 with 10 minutes left to play.

The DHL Stormers showed great patience in their opponents half and they were rewarded as the ball was sent wide to SP Marais who finished out wide to seal the victory.

The scorers:

For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Viljoen, Vermaak, penalty try, Marais
Con: Du Plessis
Pens: Du Plessis 2

For Jaguares:
Tries: Creevy, Cordero 2
Cons: Sanchez, Iglesias
Pens: Tuculet, Sanchez

DHL Stormers: 15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth (vice-captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Seabelo Senatla.

Jaguares: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Santiago García Botta.
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Rodrigo Baez, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Matías Moroni.