Stormers star Hacjivah Dayimani against the Lions. Photo Ashley Vlotman Gallo Images

Stormers star Hacjivah Dayimani against the Lions. Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images.

Stormers light up Cape Town on New Year’s Eve to tame Lions

Stormers shred Lions to claim emphatic 40-8 bonus-point win in Cape Town, closing the gap on United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster.

Stormers star Hacjivah Dayimani against the Lions. Photo Ashley Vlotman Gallo Images

Stormers star Hacjivah Dayimani against the Lions. Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images.

The Stormers shredded the Lions to claim an entertaining 40-8 bonus-point win in Cape Town, closing the gap on United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster to just three points.

The URC title holders made it eight wins from 10 starts in this season’s competition with a bonus-point success.

Full-back Damian Willemse and hooker Dean Fourie scored early tries as the Stormers threatened to embark on a points spree.

But the Lions, currently the only South African side outside the league’s top-eight, did not throw in the towel.

Centre Dan du Plessis added a third Stormers try before the interval, and wing Angelo Davids scored shortly afterwards following Henco van Wyk’s touchdown for the Lions, while Jordan Hendrikse kicked a penalty.

Hendrikse’s opposite number Manie Libbok booted five conversions, including the extras for Davids’ second touchdown 13 minutes from time and a late Marcel Theunissen score as the Stormers finished off the year in emphatic style.

ALSO READ: Stormers vs Lions — URC stats, facts and key history

Stormers vs Lions scorers:

Stormers — Tries: Damian Willemse, Deon Fourie, Dan du Plessis, Angelo Davids (2), Marcel Theunissen. Conversions: Manie Libbok (5).
Lions — Try: Henco van Wyk. Penalty goal: Jordan Hendrikse.

STORMERS AND LIONS TEAMS FOR UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DERBY:

Stormers — 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Subs: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.

Lions — 15 Quan Horn, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren,, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith.
Subs: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Manuel Rass.

Stormers star man Damian Willemse against the Lions. Photo Ashley Vlotman Gallo Images
Damian Willemse was one of the star performers for the Stormers against the Lions. Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images.