URC result: Stormers edge Lions in Ellis Park thriller

The Stormers managed to edge the Lions 35-33 in a thrilling United Rugby Championship (URC) match at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon, in a game that swung back and forth throughout the 80 minutes.

The Lions got off to a strong start, but a host of errors and powerful finish to the half saw the Stormers take a big lead, with them extending in the second half before the hosts came flying back to finish just short in the end.

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The opening 25 minutes of the match were dominated by the Lions, thanks to their ascendancy at the set pieces, but they somehow found themselves down 13-7.

The Lions were first to score in the fifth minute, winning a scrum penalty on the half way, kicking into the Stormers 22m, securing the lineout, attacked through a number of phases and hooker PJ Botha was driven over the line for the try, with flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse converting for a 7-0 lead.

Gifted points

A Lions mistake then gifted the Stormers an equaliser three minutes later as they dropped the ball on attack in their own half, allowing inside centre Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to kick the ball ahead twice, catch it and score, with flyhalf Clayton Blommetjies levelling matters.

The Lions should have retaken the lead after turning down a number of kickable penalties to kick into the Stormers 22m, but the visitors held out, which allowed them to slot two penalties themselves as Feinberg-Mngomezulu nailed one from distance and Blommetjies popped one over for a 13-7 lead after 19 minutes.

Stormers prop Kwenzo Blose had been absolutely smashed in the scrums, forcing coach John Dobson into an early change, sending on Lizo Gqoboka in the 25^th minute and this changed the game for them as it stabilised their set piece and dominated the rest of the half.

In the final seven minutes of the half a huge maul led to hooker Joseph Dweba going over, while scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies sniped over from a ruck in the Lions 22m, both converted, as the Stormers powered into a 27-7 lead at the break.

The second half started as the first ended with the Stormers counterattacking into the Lions 22m and Feinberg-Mngomezulu stepping his way over for a second try and 32-7 lead after 42 minutes.

Box office

An early change for the Lions saw box office outside centre Henco van Wyk on for Manie Rass and he immediately made a difference, smashing over to score in the 45^th minute, with Hendrikse’s extras making it 32-14.

Another long range penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the 54^th minute pushed the Stormers further ahead, but the Lions hit back seven minutes later as a powerful maul in the visitors 22m ended with replacement forward Ruan Venter dotting down, with the score 35-19.

A monstrous scrum from the Lions on a Stormers put in, in their own 22m in the 71^st minute saw the ball squirt out, allowing replacement scrumhalf Morne van den Berg to pick up and step his way over, with Sanele Nohamba, who switched to flyhalf, slotting the extras.

With time running out the Lions had the final say as they attacked into the Stormers 22m and eighthman Francke Horn dotted down in the 79^th minute, with the extras bringing it to two points, but it was too little too late as the visitors held on.

Scorers

Lions: Tries – PJ Botha, Henco van Wyk, Ruan Venter, Morne van den Berg, Francke Horn; Conversions – Jordan Hendrikse (2), Sanele Nohamba (2)

Stormers: Tries – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Joseph Dweba, Herschel Jantjies; Conversions – Clayton Blommetjies (3); Penalties – Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Blommetjies