Stormers secure maiden Heineken Champions Cup win

Willie Engelbrecht, Hacjivah Dayimani, Leolin Zas and Junior Pokomela crossed for the hosts as they bounced back from their opening round defeat at ASM Clermont Auvergne, Manie Libbok adding 14 points from the tee.

Irish rallied in the second half, crossing through Mike Willemse and Will Joseph and seeing two further scores ruled out by the TMO, though they would leave South African empty-handed.

DHL Stormers were in control for the vast majority of the first half, crossing through flanker Engelbrecht on eight minutes after a smart tip-on from prop Steven Kitshoff.

But Irish’s defence was impressive, repelling the hosts on several occasions, while full-back Ben Loader was stopped metres short in their best attacking moment of the half.

DHL Stormers looked to have notched a superb second score as lock Salmaan Moerat finished off a flowing move from deep on 24 minutes, but it was chalked off as the TMO spotted a forward pass from Kitshoff.

With Irish providing stubborn resistance, DHL Stormers opted to kick for the posts seconds before half-time, Libbok, who converted the early try, extending their lead to 10 points with a penalty.

And they started the second half in style, with No.8 Dayimani strolling over moments after the restart following a mistake from Irish scrum-half Joe Powell.

A third try came from a brilliant flowing move shortly after, Dayimani involved again before wing Zas stepped inside and finished coolly.

Hooker Willemse bundled over amid a maul to put Irish on the board on 50 minutes, but DHL Stormers’ lead was up to 27-7 on the hour mark as Libbok nudged over another penalty.

Irish enjoyed their best moments over the closing stages, replacement scrum-half Ben White seeing a score ruled out by the TMO as he knocked on before grounding.

Joseph danced his way through the DHL Stormers defence on 72 minutes to keep Irish’s faint hopes of a comeback alive, but a second score from the replacement wing moments later was chalked off by the TMO in a huge blow to those ambitions.

And the Gallagher Premiership outfit’s second defeat in their opening two Heineken Champions Cup games ended in further disappointment as replacement flanker Pokomela crashed over from a driving maul, securing the bonus point for DHL Stormers in the final play of the game.

DHL Stormers and London Irish will do battle again in Round 3, with the South African side visiting the Gtech Community Stadium on January 15.