The Emirates Lions mauled the Sunwolves 37-24 in Singapore in their Vodacom Super Rugby match on Saturday and later in the day the Cell C Sharks returned to winning ways with a splendid 28-14 triumph over the Rebels in Durban.

The DHL Stormers played courageously but went down 34-28 to the Hurricanes in Wellington, while it was not a good day at the office for the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria where they suffered a 56-20 loss to the Chiefs.

Courageous DHL Stormers come up short in Wellington

#CHIEvSTO                     

The DHL Stormers almost caused an upset in Wellington, but ultimately paid the price for too many missed tackles and a high error count as the Hurricanes won their Vodacom Super Rugby clash by 34-28.

It was especially in the second half, when the home team sped up play and shifted the ball out wide, that the DHL Stormers paid the price. Wes Goosen, who was born in East London, scored two of the Hurricanes’ five tries, both after the break.

The final nail was hammered into the Capetonians’ coffin by All Black flyhalf Beauden Barrett, with his first try of the year in the 72nd minute.

The home team then had to work hard to keep the DHL Stormers out in the final moments of the match for their third consecutive home victory over the men in blue and white, whose pack of forwards put in a very good performance on the night.

Leading by 21-15 at half-time, the DHL Stormers managed to keep the pressure on the Kiwis, but apart from missing crucial tackles, they also didn’t capitalise on the opportunities they created. The visitors also failed to relieve pressure with their tactical kicking.

Springboks Siya Kolisi and Bongi Mbonambi scored first-half tries for the DHL Stormers, while replacement flanker Jaco Coetzee added his name to the score sheet after the break, and SP Marais added 13 points with the boot.

Injuries to a number of their forwards disrupted the DHL Stormers’ momentum – they lost locks JD Schickerling and Salmaan Moerat, as well as Coetzee in the second half, which meant that Mbonambi had to return to the field and finished the game at flank. The Cape side face the Blues in their next tour game in Auckland on Saturday and the Hurricanes host the Crusaders on Friday.

Scorers:

Hurricanes 34 (15) – Tries: Ben May, Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen (2), Beauden Barrett. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (3). Penalty goal: Beauden Barrett.

DHL Stormers 28 (21) – Tries: Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Jaco Coetzee. Conversions: SP Marais (2). Penalty goals: Marais (3).

Emirates Lions maul Sunwolves in Singapore

#SUNvLIO

A first-half brace by Malcolm Marx and four tries in quick succession after the break were more than enough for the Emirates Lions as they beat the Sunwolves by 37-24 in a Vodacom Super Rugby match in Singapore on Saturday.

Marx was massively influential in the first half, when things were still pretty tight. His two tries came from the back of rolling mauls, while he also won two crucial penalties on the ground with his ball poaching capabilities.

The home team got on the score board first through an early penalty try against the Emirates Lions when Sylvian Mahuza failed to intercept and was yellow carded in the process. Then Marx took control and the visitors went into the sheds leading by 12-7.

The second half started a bit slowly, and the Sunwolves closed gap to 12-10 before Nic Groom showed great awareness as he broke close to the try-line after another strong Emirates Lions maul in the 52nd minute.

Five minutes later, yet again after a strong maul, Elton Jantjies popped up on the blind side to cross in the right hand corner for another well-worked try, and the men from Johannesburg stretched their lead even more on the hour mark when Lionel Mapoe went over from a move that was sparked by a great run by Aphiwe Dyantyi, who had just come on as a replacement.

The Sunwolves finally breached the Emirates Lions’ defence in the 65th minute when Rahboni Warren Vosayaco crashed over, but the visitors were not done yet and Hacjivah Dayimani got their sixth try in the 75th minute.

Vosayaco scored his second just before the end, but by then the victory was already sealed for the Emirates Lions. The Joburg side have a bye next weekend.

Scorers:

Sunwolves 24 (7) – Tries: Rahboni Warren Vosayaco (2), Penalty try. Conversions: Hayden Parker (2). Penalty goal: Parker.

Emirates Lions 37 (12) – Tries: Malcolm Marx (2), Nic Groom, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Hacjivah Dayimani. Conversions: Jantjies (2). Penalty goal: Jantjies.

Chiefs romp to big win over Vodacom Bulls at Loftus

#BULvCHI

Damian McKenzie provided the spark for the Chiefs as they romped to a comprehensive 56-20 victory over the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon for their first win in Pretoria since 2001. 

The Chiefs have struggled to find form before this Vodacom Super Rugby round six encounter, losing four and drawing one of their previous five games.

The Kiwis led 24-6 at half-time and eventually outscored the home side by seven tries to two to register their first success of the year. McKenzie was full of running from the fullback position and he initiated many of their tries with some sniping runs from the back.

And he was on song too with his kicking duties by landing six conversions and three penalties for a personal tally of 21 points, for which he was deservingly rewarded with the Man of the Match accolade. Solomon Alaimalo (2), Alex Nankivell (2), Brodie Retallick (2) and replacement Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi scored the tries for the Kiwi visitors.

The men from Pretoria returned from a week layoff and they struggled to find any rhythm in the first half. They were guilty of committing far too many handling errors and also allowed themselves to be pinned down for large periods of times in their own half of the field.

They were also dealt a heavy blow in the first half when influential number eight Duane Vermeulen left the field because of a knee injury.

The home team’s midfielders, Jesse Kriel and Burger Odendaal, scored their only two tries in the second half, however, the Chiefs never really looked in trouble as they controlled possession and territory for their first win of the campaign.

Next week the Vodacom Bulls travel to Durban to take on the Cell C Sharks while the Chiefs fly to Argentina to face the Jaguares. 

Scorers

Vodacom Bulls 20 (6) - Tries: Jesse Kriel, Burger Odendaal; Conversions: Handre Pollard (2); Penalties: Pollard (2)

Chiefs 56 (24) - Tries: Solomon Alaimalo (2), Alex Nankivell (2), Brodie Retallick (2), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi; Conversions: Damian McKenzie (6); Penalties: McKenzie (3)

Cell C Sharks bounce back to form against Rebels

#SHAvREB

The Cell C Sharks bounced back to winning ways with a thoroughly deserving 28-14 Vodacom Super Rugby victory over the Rebels on Saturday evening in Durban.

The hard-fought home win allowed the coastal side to move into the second spot on the South African Conference log with 15 points, three behind the Emirates Lions who won in Singapore earlier in the day, and one ahead of the DHL Stormers who lost in Wellington to the Hurricanes.

Only two points separated the two teams at the break with the Durban outfit 16-14 in front after the first 40 minutes of play.

The Cell C Sharks stepped up a gear in the second half to dot down two more times via flyhalf Robert du Preez and speedster Makazole Mapimpi, to add to the five pointer of Dan du Preez.

Well-worked tries by Tom English and Jack Maddocks brought the visitors to within two points of the home side, but they were unable to add to their tally in the second half thanks to a fine defensive effort from the men in black.

Following a bright start to their campaign and then two successive losses, to the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers respectively, the Cell C Sharks gave a much more controlled attacking performance on their home turf.

Their powerful pack laid a good foundation for the backs to constantly trouble the Melbourne visitors and coach Robert du Preez will have been pleased with their overall performance.

Next up, the Cell C sharks host the Vodacom Bulls in another tough local derby, while the Rebels travel to Brisbane for their encounter with the Reds.

Scorers:

Cell C Sharks 28 (16) - Tries: Daniel du Preez, Robert du Preez, Makazole Mapimpi; Conversions: Robert du Preez (2); Penalties: Robert Du Preez (3)

Rebels 14 (14) - Tries: Tom English, Jack Maddocks; Conversions: Quade Cooper (2).

Other Round 6 results:

Blues 33, Highlanders 26

Waratahs 20, Crusaders 12

Reds 36, Brumbies 14