The Stormers rediscovered their best form to dismantle the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld and reignite their URC campaign. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports.
The Cape side scored four tries – including a penalty try – in a clinical 32-19 bonus-point win that brought the Bulls’ four-match winning streak to a shuddering halt. The visitors held a slender 10-7 lead at half-time.
The result sees the Stormers climb back up to second on the log, while the Bulls remain eighth.
Both sides had early tries chalked off after TMO reviews and the great rivals traded scrum penalties as the Springbok-laden packs tried to assert dominance upfront.
Around the quarter-hour mark, the Stormers were dealt a major blow when lock Adré Smith was yellow-carded for scything down Bulls pivot Handré Pollard after he had kicked downfield.
It got worse for the Stormers minutes later when a Bulls drive from a lineout saw referee Marius van der Westhuizen award a penalty try and a yellow card to flank Ben-Jason Dixon for illegally trying to bring down the maul.
Suddenly the Bulls were 7-0 up and with a two-man advantage.
Too much pressure. Penalty try given
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The Stormers missed a chance to get on the scoreboard when flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pulled a penalty attempt wide.
However, on the half-hour mark, a rare Stormers foray into the Bulls 22 saw centre Damian Willemse run a brilliant line close to the tryline to cross unopposed. Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the extras and the Stormers had pulled level on the scoreboard and in terms of on-field personnel.
Spots the gap and he’s over
Damian Willemse scores for the DHL Stormers
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The Stormers suddenly found their mojo and Feinberg-Mngomezulu flicked the magic switch, a scintillating break from deep followed by a cross-field kick which saw the ball just elude the racing Leolin Zas on the left touchline for what would have been one of the tries of the season.
The Stormers then started dominating possession and territory and on the stroke of half-time Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicked a long-range penalty for a slender lead.
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The opening 10 minutes of the second half were a real arm wrestle as both teams had a go at trying to breach the defensive sets.
Sustained pressure in the Bulls 22 eventually saw the home side concede a penalty in front of their posts and Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted for a six-point lead.
The penalty count was mounting for a Bulls side under the cosh for long periods. It was no surprise when unrelenting pressure saw the Stormers breach the defence from a lineout drive, replacement flank Paul de Villiers dotting down to make it 18-7.
The Stormers were suddenly playing like the team from the opening rounds of the competition when they swept all before them. The pressure was starting to tell and Bulls replacement loose forward Cobus Wiese saw yellow for striking out at a prone Dixon.
A shell-shocked home side then imploded as the Stormers forced a penalty try of their own from a maul and Bulls centurion Marco van Staden saw his special occasion spoiled by a yellow-carded.
At 25-7 and with two Bulls players in the sin bin it was a reversal of the first-half situation.
A touch of Canan Moodie magic saw Bulls replacement scrumhalf Zak Burger cross to reduce the deficit to 11 points.
In a frantic closing, Willemse kicked in behind and Stormers replacement loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani raced through to dot down.
Hacjivah Dayimani is back doing bits for the DHL Stormers
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There was still time for Arendse to score, but the game was long gone.
BULLS – Tries: Penalty try, Zak Burger, Kurt-Lee Arendse. Conversion: Handré Pollard.
STORMERS – Tries: Damian Willemse, Paul de Villiers, penalty try, Hacjivah Dayimani. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2).
Photo: Gallo Images
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