LIVE: DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions
The DHL Stormers play their first home game of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship today against the Emirates Lions and the Faithful are back in the stands in limited numbers at DHL Stadium.
Change to the DHL Stormers team with wing Sergeal Petersen and flank Nama Xaba not available in line with COVID-19 protocols. Rikus Pretorius starts on the right wing and Marcel Theunissen and Tristan Leyds are among the replacements.
0 – Action underway at DHL Stadium. Both teams get their hands on the ball early on but it is the Lions who get the first breakdown penalty and kick it out in the 22.
3 – Good tackle from Ruhan Nel and the DHL Stormers win the breakdown penalty this time and can clear it.
5 – DHL Stormers surge into the 22, making metres with every carry. They get right under the poles and a defenders knocks it forward in the tackle so the home side will have the first scrum.
7 – The Lions intercept in the 22 and rush up to halfway where they are hauled in. Ruhan Nel goes for the interceot this time but it is lost forward.
11 – First try of the match at DHL Stadium comes from Emirates Lions No.8 Francke Horn. Converted by flyhalf Fred Zeilinga.
14 – Scrum penalty for the Emirates Lions and Fred Zelinga slots the penalty to make it 10-0. Salmaan Moerat is shown a yellow card for making contact in the air from the restart.
16 – Willem Alberts shown a yellow this time fir a high shot on Evan Roos.
20 – DHL Stormers with a penalty in front of the poles, but Manie Libbok puts it wide.
22 – Edwill van der Merwe shown a yellow card this time after he pulled Seabelo Senatlás hair after he broke a tackle.
27 – The DHL Stormers come up with a beauty as they go down the shortside and scrumhalf Stef Ungerer is there to finish the try which makes it 10-7 to the Lions.
31 – The DHL Stormers come from their own half with some sensational offloading and interplay between forwards and backs. It goes wide to the right and then wide to the left where Seabelo Senatla is on hand to finish.
38 – Emirates Lions go back in front with a penalty from Fred Zeilinga, which gives them a one-point lead just before half-time.
40 – A tough opening 40 mins at DHL Stadium with three tries, three yellow cards and just one point in it at the break as DHL Stormers trail 12-13. Big second 40 coming up.
43 – Emirates Lions strike first in the second half, with scrumhalf Andre Warner getting over for their second try to stretch their lead to eight points.
48 – DHL Stormers surge into the 22 on the counter-attack and Emirates Lions hooker Jaco Visagie is shown a yellow card for a professional foul.
50 – DHL Stormers opt for the scrum and Gelant puts a grubber through but it goes touch-in-goal.
55 – Emirates Lions strike from a line-out with a try from flank Vincent Tshituka. Still 25 mins left at DHL Stadium. Big effort required to finish strong as the DHL Stormers trail 27-12.
60 – DHL Stormers on the attack as they look for a response. Attacking line-out and scrum in the 22. Lions turn it over and clear it.
67 – Emirates Lions win a few scrum penalties and have a chance to add to their score in the 22.
73 – DHL Stormers turn it over and win a series if penalties as they move into the 22 looking for their third try.
76 – Patience on attack eventually pays off as replacement hooker Andre-Hugo Venter goes over for the third try.
79 – Emirates Lions with the late try and that seals the win for the visitors.
