CAPE TOWN, June 30 (Reuters) – The Stormers strengthened
their position atop the South African Super Rugby conference
with a 27-17 victory over the Lions at Newlands on Saturday.
The win gave the Stormers 58 points, four behind overall
leaders Waikato Chiefs and nine ahead of their nearest South
African challengers.
They were made to work hard against a Lions team which went
into the match having claimed just two victories in this year’s
competition.
The unfancied Lions trailed by three points with 10 minutes
left before two tries in a six-minute spell ended their hopes.
““We weren’t good enough at the breakdown,” Stormers skipper
Jean de Villiers said in a pitchside interview. ““We need to
improve a lot but I’m happy with the win.”
The Stormers edged into a 6-3 lead after 27 minutes thanks
to two penalties from flyhalf Peter Grant, the Lions replying
with a penalty from Elton Jantjies.
The first try came after 30 minutes when Stormers wing Danie
Poolman made a searing midfield break and fullback Gio Aplon
landed his sixth try of the season.
Grant added the conversion as the Stormers went to the break
13-3 up.
The Johannesburg-based Lions began the second half the
strongest and, eight minutes in, narrowed the deficit when
flanker Josh Strauss burst clear from a ruck before setting off
on a 22-metre run on his way to a converted try.
Continued…
