DHL Stormers XV too strong for SWD

A DHL Stormers XV scored nine tries on their way to a 57-12 pre-season win against SWD Eagles in George on Friday.

There were six tries in the first half and three in the second as all 24 players got a good work-out in the warm-up clash.

After absorbing some early pressure, the DHL Stormers XV got on the front foot, with the forwards going close before the space opened up out wide for centre Chris Hollis to score the opener.

The DHL Stormers maul was impressive throughout the first half, underlined by the fact that hooker Andre-Hugo Venter scored a hat-trick, the last try from a maul that started outside the 22.

Lock Hendre Stassen also crossed the tryline twice to give the DHL Stormers XV a commanding 38-0 advantage at half-time.

Hollis got over for his second try early in the second half before the home side got on the scoreboard with two tries of their own against the run of play.

The DHL Stormers XV maul continued to work for them and they earned a penalty try after another dominant effort.

There was time for one more maul try as Jarrod Taylor went over to cap a dominant performance.

The scorers:
Tries: Hollis 2, Venter 3, Stassen 2, penalty try, Taylor
Cons: Blommetjies 6

DHL Stormers XV (v SWD): 15 Leolin Zas, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Chris Hollis, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Godlen Masimla, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Herschel Jantjies (captain), 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Hendre Stassen, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Leon Lyons, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Keenan Opperman, 21 Jarrd Taylor, 22 Tom Bursey, 23 Brendan Venter 24 Bingo Ivanisevic.