DHL Stormers too strong for Highlanders
The DHL Stormers scored four tries in an impressive 34-22 victory against the Highlanders in their Vodacom Super Rugby encounter at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
It was an encouraging display from the home side, as they outscored the New Zealand team by four tries to three in the end, to claim an important win.
The opening exchanges were intense, with both teams enjoying periods of ascendency without any points to show for it.
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The home side looked to have opened the scoring when Seabelo Senatla got on the end of a chip over the top from Damian de Allende, but the TMO ruled that he was offsides.
The first points came from the visitors as flyhalf Marty Banks landed a penalty from the halfway line just before the 20 minute mark, but those were to be their only points in the first half and the DHL Stormers scored the first try soon afterwards.
Senatla was the creator this time as he wriggled free and burst into the 22 before getting it away to Herschel Jantjies, with the scrumhalf having enough to get to the tryline.
Flyhalf Josh Stander knocked over the conversion and added a penalty soon afterwards as the Highlanders infringed in front of the tryline.
The Dunedin team were down to 14 men when fullback Matt Faddes was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
The DHL Stormers made it count with a set play from an attacking line-out that saw Siya Kolisi bust through in midfield to score for the second week in a row.
That saw the home side take a comfortable 17-3 lead into the half-time break after an impressive opening 40 minutes.
The Highlanders were first to score in the second half as centre Sio Tomkinson got over the tryline, but the DHL Stormers responded immediately with another try of their own.
Dillyn Leyds dummied his way through the defence and found lock Cobus Wiese on his outside for the third try.
They followed that up with a penalty from replacement flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis before the Highlanders got their second try through wing Waisake Naholo.
The DHL Stormers came from their own half for the next try as Damian de Allende hit a gap in midfield and raced up to the 22 where he gt the ball away to Sikhumbuzo who was brought down short. It was quickly recycled and Du Plessis went over out wide before converting it himself.
The Highlanders had the final say as prop Siate Tokolahi scored after the hooter, but it was little more than a consolation.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Jantjies, Kolisi, Wiese, Du Plessis
Cons: Stander 3, Du Plessis
Pens: Stander, Du Plessis
For Highlanders:
Tries: Tomkinson, Naholo, Tokolahi
Cons: Banks, Ioane
Pens: Banks 3
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon (DHL Stormers debut), 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Johan du Toit, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Dan Kriel.
Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Sio Tomkinson, 11 Jordan Hyland, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Luke Whitelock (captain), 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
