Stormers too strong for toothless Lions

The Stormers proved to be too strong for the Lions and came away from Coca Cola park with a 13-26 victory that sealed fourth place on the points table with one match still to play in round one.

 

Neither side took control for the first half hour as the Lions held their own, but as the first half whistle beckoned, the visitors surged ahead.

With 10 minutes left in the opening half, Jean de Jongh set up a superb try that gave the visitors the boost they needed.

 

De Jongh off-loaded to Bryan Habana, who in turn handed over to Joe Pietersen who dotted down and converted his own try to give his team a 19-6 lead.

 

And with less than two minutes on the first-half clock, Jaque Fourie further compounded the Lions' woes when he scored against his former team to hand the home side a 26-6 lead going in to the break.

 

The Lions pushed forward from the restart and camped on the Stormers try-line for a good period of time before the visitors woke from their slumber and started to defend their lead.

 

The only points of the second half, however, came from the Lions when Deon van Rensburg passed on to Franco van der Merwe who found a break to put down and close the gap.

 

But the Stormers held off the hosts and, while the Lions came close to diminishing the gap further, the visitors did well to hold them off.

 

Stormers eighthman Duane Vermuelen, named the Man of the Match, said he hoped his side would capitalise on their successful start to the season.

 

"It was great to come out, especially in this heat, and start off with a win," Vermuelen said, "and hopefully we can build on it."

 

 

Final Score Lions 13 (6)  Stormers 26 (26)

Scorers

Lions
Tries - Michael Kilian
Pen - Earl Rose  2
Con - Earl Rose
Drop -

Stormers
Tries - Joe Pietersen, Jaque Fourie
Pen - Joe Pietersen 4
Con - Joe Pietersen 2
Drop -

Match Officials
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
Ass. Refs: Mark Lawrence (SA), Kobus Wessels (SA)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SA)

Teams

Lions :Earl Rose,Tonderai Chavhanga, Deon van Rensburg, Doppies la Grange,Wandile Mjekevu, Carlos Spencer, JP Joubert, Jonothan Mokuena, Franco van der Merwe, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt.), Willem Stoltz, Jacque Lombard, Ross Geldenhuys, Hannes Franklin, Heinke van der Merwe.

Reserves: Charles Emslie, JC van Rensburg, Todd Clever, Jacques Coetzee, Derrick Minnie, Burton Francis, Michael Kilian.

Stormers :15. Joe Pietersen,14. Gio Aplon,13. Jaque Fourie,12. Juan De Jongh,11. Bryan Habana,10. Peter Grant ,9. Dewaldt Duvenage,8. Duane Vermeulen,7 Francois Louw,6. Schalk Burger (C),5. Andries Bekker ,4. De Kock Steenkamp,3. Brok Harris,2. Tiaan Liebenberg ,1. Wicus Blaauw

Reserves:16. Deon Fourie,17. JC Kritzinger,18. Anton Van Zyl,19. Pieter Louw,20. Ricky Januarie,21. Lionel Cronje,22. Sireli Naqelevuki