A DHL Stormers XV scored three tries in their pre-season match against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in George on Friday night.
The team from Kwa-Zulu Natal ended 26-17 victors on the night, but both teams got a good work-out ahead of the start of the Vodacom United Championship in two weeks’ time.
It was a hard-fought pre-season clash, with both teams giving good entertainment to an enthusiastic crowd.
The DHL Stormers started strong and a dominant scrum gave them advantage which saw Jurie Matthee pull the trigger on a cross-kick which found Seabelo Senatla, who finished in the corner.
The Durban side responded with a try to fullback Yaw Penxe which levelled things up, but the DHL Stormers XV were back in front when Senatla crossed for his second out wide and Jurie Matthee added the touchline conversion to make it 12-5.
They kept the pressure on and after more relentless attack in the 22 it was flank Ben-Jason Dixon who forced his way over for the third try.
Cenntre Francois Venter scored under the poles just before the break, but it was the DHL Stormers XV that went into half-time with a 17-12 advantage.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks took the lead for the first time through a try from Jason Jwnkins early in the second half.
The DHL Stormers XV camped in the 22 and earned several penalties without getting over the line and instead it would be the Durban side to score next against the run of play as wing Christie Grobbelaar sprinted down the touchline for their fourth try.
Both teams had their opportunities in the final stages, but there would be no further tries.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers XV:
Tries: Senatla 2, Dixon
Con: Matthee
For Hollywoodbets Sharks:
Tries: Penxe, Venter, Jenkins, Grobbelaar
Cons: Masuku, Smith
DHL Stormers XV: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Ruhan Nel (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Cabous Eloff, 19 JJ Kotze, 20 Alex Groves, 21 Connor Evans, 22 Louw Nel, 23 Stefan Ungerer, 24 Clinton Swart, 25 Damian Markus, 26 Jared Africa, 27 Justin Geduld, 28 Sako Makata.
