The DHL Stormers secured the bonus point after they secured a 34-14 victory over London Irish in the Heineken Champions Cup at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
They had to work hard for the victory against a tenacious London Irish team, but in the end they prevailed with a score of four tries to two.
Willie Engelbrecht’s try and Manie Libbok’s penalty gave the DHL Stormers a 6-0 halftime lead.
The try was scored early on when Engelbrecht took a pass from his captain Steven Kitshoff and sprinted in from close range to score.
Salmaan Moerat, the home team’s lock, appeared to have extended the lead when he finished off a spectacular try that had been set up inside the opposition’s 22. However, the try was called back by the TMO due to a forward pass.
A Libbok penalty right before halftime gave the DHL Stormers a 10-0 lead over the London Irish. The visitors had their chances to score, but the DHL Stormers’ defense held strong.
The DHL Stormers scored two quick tries to open the second half.
The first was scored by Hacjivah Dayimani after winger Leolin Zas won a high ball to put away the flank.
The second one was a result of some excellent passing and a break by the flank, which was finished by Zas after being set up by Dayimani.
They scored a maul try thanks to hooker Mike Willemse and kept the pressure on the DHL Stormers, who spent a lot of time defending their own 22.
The replacement Will Joseph scored a second try for them with five minutes remaining, but Junior Pokomela’s maul try immediately following the final hooter gave the home team the bonus point victory they needed.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Engelbrecht, Dayimani, Zas, Pokomela
Cons: Libbok 4
Pen: Libbok
For London Irish:
Tries: Willemse, Joseph
Cons: Jackson 2
DHL Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Photo by Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
