Stormers claim 40-22 victory over Reds in Super Rugby
By Reuters
Last Updated: 26/04/16 10:50am
Wingers Jaco Van Wyk and Leolin Zas scored first-half tries as the Stormers battled to a scrappy 40-22 Super Rugby victory over the Reds at Newlands.
Scrum-half Nic Groom added a third score in the second half but the visitors were in the game until the final 15 minutes as they bagged tries through Liam Gill, Karmichael Hunt and Eto Nabuli.
Three penalties from replacement fly-half Brandon Thomson, on his Super Rugby debut, and a late try from prop Vincent Koch clinched victory for the hosts.
An early penalty put the visitors in front before Van Wyk scored the opening try after patient build-up from the Stormers.
Reds fly-half Jake McIntyre got himself into a position to intercept the last pass to Van Wyk but left the ball behind, allowing the winger to coast home.
Zas showed good awareness when he picked up the ball at the back of a ruck close to the visitors' line and was able to stretch and place the ball over the line.
The Reds got themselves back in the game when they profited from a basic error from Stormers full-back Cheslin Kolbe, who dropped a simple pass 10 metres from his line and from the resulting scrum Gill forced his way over the line.
Du Plessis gave the home side a 17-10 lead at half-time with another penalty, but it was the Reds who scored first after the break through Hunt before Nabuli crossed in the same corner to put them ahead.
But the lead lasted a matter of minutes as Groom scored under the posts and Thomson added three penalties to extend the gap to 11 points, before Koch crossed in the final play of the game.
Elsewhere, the Lions continued their impressive Super Rugby form with a 45-10 demolition of the Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The visitors, who have now won six from eight, ran in seven tries through Warren Whiteley, Courtnall Skosan, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Akker van der Merwe's double and two from Ruan Combrinck. Elton Janties converted five of those scores.
Luzuko Vulindlu and Chris Cloete crossed for the Kings, who have won just once in seven.