The DHL Stormers beat the Reds 20-15 in their first game since returning from tour.
The victory was only the 5th for the Cape side during this campaign and puts an end to a string of 3 losses in a row , a stat that Jean de Villiers and Allister Coetsee were well aware of and were no doubt under immense pressure to secure a victory, a feat that no doubt seemed harder with an injury list as long as and including Andries Bekker.
The first half was a scrappy affair with both teams attempting to run the ball from all areas of the field when a kick for territory would have been the wiser choice, a single Joe Pieterson penalty was the only thing separating the teams at half time with Quade Cooper and Joe Pieterson both pushing other attempts to the left of the uprights.
The second half got underway with much more energy than the first, Elton Jantjies perfectly weighted a cross kick which Joe Pieterson collected before putting captain Jean De Villiers away for a 25m run in to the try line. That try proved to be the only one of the game as Pieterson and Cooper traded penalties for the rest of the game, a Cooper penalty did give the visitors the lead at one point during the game but it was short lived .
The Reds wouldn’t give up without a fight and took the match into a lengthy over time period attacking the Stormers goal line with some purpose but Tiaan Liebenberg proved to be the returning hero as he won a crucial penalty when the Reds were 5m out, Elton Jantjies hoofed the ball into the railway stand to the joy the 26 000 strong Newlands crowd.
Man of the Match : Eben Etzebeth
Final Score Stormers 20 – Reds 15 / Half Time Stormers 3 – Reds 0
Scorers
Stormers
Tries – J.De Villiers
Penalties – J.Pietersen 4
Convesrsion – J.Pietersen
Reds
Penalties – Q.Cooper 5
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Well done Stormers. The Reds are no pushovers. 😎
Hehehe!