DHL Stormers overcome Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban

The Hollywoodbets Sharks suffered more Vodacom United Rugby Championship misery as the DHL Stormers inflicted a ninth league defeat on them by winning 25-21 in Durban.

They continue to prop up the table with a solitary win from 10 starts this season while their South African rivals remain strong play-off contenders.

The Stormers cruised into an early lead through tries from hooker Joseph Dweba and scrum-half Paul de Wet, with centre Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding one conversion and then kicking a penalty just before half-time.

Prop Ox Nche, flanker James Venter and hooker Bongi Mbonambi claimed touchdowns for the Sharks - Curwin Bosch and Siya Masuku (2) kicked conversions, securing a losing bonus point - but wing Ben Loader's 49th-minute touchdown, converted by Feinberg-Mngomezulu, proved decisive and the centre also slotted a late penalty.

The Stormers, 16-15 conquerors of the Sharks in Cape Town just over a month ago, dominated the opening exchanges and were only denied a try when flanker Evan Roos was tackled into touch by home full-back Aphelele Fassi.

The Sharks were forced into prolonged periods of defending, making 42 tackles during the opening quarter, but their resistance was finally broken after 17 minutes when Loader delivered a scoring pass to Dweba, who brushed off Fassi's tackle to score.

The Stormers were moving through the gears, and a touch of brilliance by full-back Warrick Gelant created a second try after he gathered his own kick ahead and fed a supporting De Wet, who touched down between the posts and Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted.

The Sharks, though, did not fold in the face of Stormers' territorial control and Nche's try nine minutes before the break - converted by Bosch - gave them hope.

Warrick Gelant 🪄#SHAvSTO | @Vodacom #URC | #GrassrootsToGreatness pic.twitter.com/AKCEQpfqfF

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) February 17, 2024

Feinberg-Mngomezulu then kicked a penalty from just inside the Sharks' half and Stormers led 15-7 at half-time.

The Stormers began the second period as they did the first, stretching Sharks' defence in all directions before Loader rounded off a sweeping move that had heavily involved Roos and crossed wide out.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu's conversion left the Sharks 15 points adrift but the home team had no intention of going away quietly and Venter's 59th-minute try, which Masuku converted, set up an intriguing final quarter.

The Stormers had to work hard to close things out and another Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty gave them breathing space until Mbonambi's late try that Masuku converted ensured a tense finale.

Vodacom Man of the Match

Stormers' tighthead prop Neethling Fouche proved a dominant figure for his team, excelling in the scrums and also showing up well around the pitch.

Wet conditions did not allow for a free-flowing spectacle in Durban, which placed an added emphasis on the set-piece work of both packs and Fouche rose to the challenge impressively.

Play of the match

Conditions were damp and the pitch slippery in Durban but that did not prevent Gelant from showing a delightful piece of skill to set up his team's second try.

With both sides adapting to the weather, Gelant had the confidence to attempt a chip-kick over Sharks' defence that he gathered effortlessly and found supporting scrum-half De Wet alongside him, who he sent sprinting clear through a fine pass.