Try-scorer: Gio Aplon
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The Stormers moved one step closer to finishing on top of the South African conference after they battled past the Lions 27-17 at Newlands on Saturday.
In what was a spirited effort, the Lions battled for every inch against their conference leaders in a game that saved its entertainment until the end.
Three tries were scored in the final ten minutes in Cape Town - two for the Stormers and one for the Lions - but the hosts fell short of the bonus-point.
It was a lifeless opening in Cape Town as the miserable recent weather was backed up by a dull start that only came to life on the half-hour mark when Gio Aplon went over following an impressive break from Danie Poolman. Poolman was a late call-up after Joe Pietersen pulled out.
Even more worrying news for the Stormers was that original bench option, Bryan Habana, was also ruled out, compounding their injury troubles.
Peter Grant opened the scoring from the tee as early as the fourth minute though after Lions scrum-half Tian Meyer was penalised for being offside. The Stormers knew that kicks and not tries would be fine for them as they looked to consolodate their position ahead of the Bulls at the summit of the South African conference.
Elton Jantjies did respond in the 24th minute with his second attempt as fans struggled to get excited by what was unfolding in front of them. It was far from tournament-winning form.
They would find their feet and voice six minutes later though when full-back Aplon was put over the line by fly-half Grant, who had only just pushed his side back in front with his second shot at goal. His third would be the extras to Aplon's try, making it 13-3 at half-time.
Just ahead of the break Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee suffered further disruption to his team when wing Poolman was forced off the field and replaced by Marcel Branche.
When the teams returned, the Lions absorbed the initial pressure but once they managed to break out of their half they caught the Stormers napping around the fringe of a breakdown play and skipper Josh Strauss scrambled through for a try, which Jantjies easily converted.
The Lions were fired up but in their eagerness to up their tempo, errors crept into their game and the Stormers managed to take the initiative, and they might have added a second try but busy full-back Aplon was collared on the whitewash with a team-mate on his outside.
With fifteen minutes remaining, the Lions threatened to turn the match on its head when they made several charges at the try-line, but a mixture of sound defence and poor options left them empty handed, and instead the Stormers bounced back in fine style with late tries.
Jebb Sinclair and Gerhard van den Heever were the scorers before Lions lock Franco van der Merwe scored to cut the gap in their first game without suspended boss John Mitchell.
The scorers:
For Stormers:
Tries: Aplon, Sinclair, Van den Heever
Con: Grant 3
Pen: Grant 2
For Lions:
Tries: Strauss, Van der Merwe
Con: Jantjies 2
Pen: Jantjies
Stormers: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Don Armand, 6 Tyrone Holmes, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Quinn Roux, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schrueder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Marcel Brache.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Butch James, 11 Anthonie Volminck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ruaan Dreyer, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Waylon Murray, 22 Ruan Combrinck.
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina), Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Comments
rolf says...
@TN2:
Indeedy, but if all are at full force - may the best team win.
although injuries are part of Rugby (ask me!) it is somuch nicer if the best blokes are available to play in front of the best crowds.
Posted 07:29 05th July 2012
4rugby says...
@Rampage I never said Butch didn't deserve the penalty just call the same rules for both teams.
Posted 08:30 04th July 2012
Ramage says...
@4rugby when I read the post you made I thought youmeant it was Bryce Lawrence refereeing the game. Surely it wasn't Mark Lawrence the South African as its only kiwi refs who referee like you have described. Any way as it is Mark Lawrence you are talking about it seems to me you might be telling porkies. After all everyone knows Butch James is worth at least 3 penalties to the other side per game.
Posted 13:51 03rd July 2012
Trinats2 says...
rolf:
"sure hope they manage the play-offs adn vome back with a full strength team"
Problem is that other teams, who have had more injuries, may also come back full strenght !!!
Posted 02:56 02nd July 2012
rolf says...
Lucky me, only swa the last 20 mins on the web and was not so unhappy with game, especials JdV impressed me once again.
The Stormers are really really cursed with injuries - for the second season in a row.
taking taht into consideration, one must humbly accpet that bonus points are not theirs for the taking.
sure hope they manage the play-offs adn vome back with a full strength team
Posted 13:22 01st July 2012
Trinats2 says...
How poor is the South African Conference? 10 point win for top Saffa side aganist the weakest team in the history of Super Rugby (with no coach !!!). Should have been a 4 try bonus point in first 30 mins, may come back to bite them.
Posted 08:02 01st July 2012
4rugby says...
Mark Lawrence was shocker. Tried his best and succeeded to help the stormers. How can you give a penalty against the tackler for not releasing the player when he is still on his 2 feet and the ball is in the air. He said tackle and release whilst the tackle player is standing. Becker infringes, stormers run right across the field to score a try. penalizes butch james for lazy running and 5 minutes later the stormers do the same thing. 13 points given to Stormers by the referee. Mark Laurence, well done. Iam not a lions supporter , but they were hard done by.
Posted 07:22 01st July 2012