Stormers come from behind to beat Lions

The Stormers survived a scare when they came from behind to beat the Lions 19-22 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Lions led the Stormers for 76 minutes of the match before Siya Kolisi scored their only try having kept themselves in the match with penalties.

The Lions had two chances in extra time to win the match but both times Howard Mnisi knocked on -once in front of the posts and the other when he crossed the tryline.

The Lions changed half of their team for this match and were a hugely improved outfit as they were desperate to win at home before they fly out to New Zealand.

Made to put up a fight in the first half, the hosts maintained their composure and took control of the match, despite the visitors retaining the majority share of possession.

Taking the lead after flyhalf Elton Jantjies slotted an early penalty, the Lions remained in front until the dying stages.

Extending their advantage in the first quarter of the match, flanker Warwick Tecklenburg found a gap from five metres out to dot down the opening try, successfully converted by Jantjies.

Stormers flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis banged over three penalties in the space of eight minutes but Jantjies added another three-pointer shortly before the break to give the Lions a 13-9 advantage at the interval.

Jantjies and Catrakilis traded blows for either side in the second half, with both players kicking brilliant long-range penalties, and the hosts retained a seven-point lead in the latter stages before the Stormers found the breakthrough.

With less than four minutes left, replacement Siya Kolisi barged over at the back of a maul to put his side in front for the first time in the game, and Kurt Coleman was successful with the conversion.

Refusing to give up, the Lions surged forward in a final attempt to bag a crucial win, camping on the Stormers try-line after the horn and blown.

Howard Mnisi lost the ball in a tackle by Damian de Allende after crossing the line, however, and the Stormers held on to remain unbeaten from three matches in the campaign.

The Lions continued to struggle, failing to bag their first victory of the season, as they prepared for the start of their Australasian tour.

"We spoke about it before the game and we knew we would have to dig deep because it's not easy to play the Lions at Ellis Park," said De Allende, the Man of the Match.

"The boys stuck to their guns, and we saved it till late, but a win is a win and we'll take it."

The Stormers host the Sharks in Cape Town next week while the Lions fly to New Zealand where they will play the Blues in North Harbour.

Final Score Lions 19 (13) Stormers 22 (9)

Scorers

Lions
Tries - W. Tecklenburg
Pen - E.Jantjies 4
Con - E.Jantjies
Drop -
Cards -

Stormers
Tries - S.Kolisi
Pen - D.Catrakilis 5
Con - K.Coleman
Drop -
Cards -

Match Officials
Referee: Andrew Lees
Assistant Ref 1:Quinton Immelman
Assistant Ref 2:Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO :Marius Jonker

Teams

Lions

15. Andries Coetzee , 14. Ruan Combrinck , 13. Lionel Mapoe , 12. Harold Vorster , 11. Sampie Mastriet , 10. Elton Jantjies , 9. Faf de Klerk , 8. Warren Whiteley (c) , 7. Warwick Tecklenburg , 6. Jaco Kriel , 5. Martin Muller , 4. Franco Mostert , 3. Julian Redelinghuys , 2. Robbie Coetzee , 1. Schalk van der Merwe

Replacements : 16. Armand van der Merwe , 17. Corne Fourie , 18. Ruan Dreyer , 19. Robert Kruger , 20. Derick Minnie , 21. Ross Cronje , 22. Jaco van der Walt , 23. Howard Mnisi

Stormers

15. Cheslin Kolbe , 14. Johnny Kotze , 13. Juan de Jongh (vice-captain) , 12. Damian de Allende , 11. Dillyn Leyds , 10. Demetri Catrakilis , 9. Nic Groom , 8. Duane Vermeulen (captain) , 7. Michael Rhodes , 6. Nizaam Carr , 5. Ruan Botha , 4. Jurie van Vuuren , 3. Vincent Koch , 2. Bongi Mbonambi (Super Rugby starting debut for the Stormers) , 1. Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: , 16. Scarra Ntubeni , 17. Oli Kebble , 18. Frans Malherbe , 19. Manuel Carizza , 20. Siya Kolisi , 21. Louis Schreuder , 22. Kurt Coleman , 23. Huw Jones