Lions down Stormers in the den
02/15/2025 09:26 AM
Gianni Lombard kicked 15 points as the Lions beat the Stormers on Saturday for the first time at Ellis Park in five years in round 11 of the Vodacom URC.
The Lions, who hadn't beaten the Stormers in Johannesburg since 2020, won 30-23 that ended a four-game slump in all competitions for Ivan van Rooyen's men.
They also lost to the Stormers in Cape Town in December and victory on the Highveld will boost the Lions’ confidence for their Jukskei derby against the Vodacom Bulls next week at Loftus Versfeld.
The Stormers, meanwhile, have seven days' off to lick their wounds before their 1 March rematch against the Bulls in Pretoria, after going down to Jake White's charges at home in a rescheduled round-one North-South clash last week.
Three first-half tries from scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, centre Henco van Wyk and skipper Marius Louw and nine points from flyhalf Lombard powered the Lions into a dominant 24-6 half-time lead on Saturday, with two Jurie Matthee penalties all the Stormers had to show for their efforts in the opening 40 minutes.
Running rugby by the Emirates Lions
Henco van Wyk increases the home sides’ lead with a brilliant finish
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The hosts exploited the space out wide and carved apart the visitors, who conceded 17 points with 14 men midway through the first half after fullback Warrick Gelant saw yellow for cynical play at the ruck.
Gelant pulled one back for the Stormers after the restart, and Matthee added the extras, before Lombard split the uprights twice from the kicking tee as the match entered the final quarter.
A converted Evan Roos try made it a 10-point game inside the closing stages, the men from the Cape capitalising on their numerical advantage with Lions right wing Richard Kriel sent to the naughty chair for 10 minutes for a deliberate knock-on.
But the Pride held on for a memorable win while for the Stormers, a third penalty from Matthee after the hooter earned them a losing point, which could prove crucial in their bid to stay in playoffs contention.
Gelant initiates the fight back with a class solo try #LIOvSTO | @Vodacom#URC | #VupYourSummerpic.twitter.com/tJQ1gohd0q
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) February 15, 2025
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