Lions lose in nail-biting last minute thrill against Stormers
Lions went down at the hands of the Stormers.
The DHL Stormers stunned the Emirates Lions with a last-gasp try in their Vodacom Super Rugby derby in Cape Town on February 3, the Cell C Sharks notched up their second win in a row when they defeated the Blues in Durban, while the Jaguares defeated the Vodacom Bulls in the final fixture of this weekend’s second round action.
DHL Stormers stun Emirates Lions
Herschel Jantjies scored the match-winning try seven minutes into added time to snatch a 19-17 win over the Emirates Lions in Cape Town on Saturday evening. The Highveld team led 14-6 at half-time through converted tries from Kwagga Smith and skipper Warren Whiteley.
The reliable boot of SP Marais kept the home side in the match with four successful penalties and although they didn’t have things their own way for much of the game, they managed to keep within touching distance of the visitors.
In the last play of the match, Jantjies, who had come onto the pitch to replace scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, burst through a gap in the defence to score the try that brought the DHL Stormers level. Marais kicked the winning points with his easy conversion to secure a stunning turnaround win for the jubilant Capetonians.
Jaguares conquer Vodacom Bulls in Buenos Aires
The Vodacom Bulls travelled to the Argentinean capital with much confidence on the back of a superb win over the DHL Stormers, but they were brought down to earth in the soggy conditions of Buenos Aires where the Jaguares scored a 27-12 bonus-point win in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The home team scored three tries in front of their appreciative crowd while the visitors made too many handling errors which prevented them from crossing the line. The Jaguares led 7-3 at half-time.
Matias Orlando, Rodrigo Bruni and Bautista Delguy each dotted down, while Joaquin Diaz Bonilla contributed 12 points with three conversions and two penalties. The Vodacom Bulls’ points came via the boot of Handré Pollard who slotted four penalties.
The Emirates Lions host rivals, the Vodacom Bulls, in a 3.05pm kick-off next Saturday while the Jaguares welcome the Blues to Buenos Aires in their late-evening round three encounter.
Cell C Sharks sink their teeth into Blues in Durban
Replacement Curwin Bosch scored an intercept try in the last few minutes to secure a second straight bonus-point win for the Cell C Sharks in their first home game of the campaign in Durban on Saturday.
The home side gave a good attacking and defensive display in the first half, which allowed them to build a deserved 19-0 lead at the break. Aphelele Fassi, Robert du Preez and Akker van der Merwe each scored a try in the opening half that was marked by some slick handling and strong mauling by the coastal outfit.
The visiting Blues played much better in the second half and scored their only try through replacement Tanielu Tele’a, while fly half Oteri Black also had a try disallowed. Ruan Botha was yellow-carded in the 77th minute, but the hosts were able to hold onto their lead for their second win. The Cell C Sharks host the DHL Stormers in Durban next Saturday at 5.15pm. Click on the scores to access the full match details.
Other Round 2 results:
February 22
Highlanders 36, Reds 31
February 23
Sunwolves 30, Waratahs 31
Crusaders 38, Hurricanes 22
Brumbies 54, Chiefs 17
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