Angel Davids. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
The Stormers scored four tries to defeat the London Irish 28-14 at Brentford Community Stadium in the Champions League on Sunday, in a match marred by two red cards for the hosts.
Poor discipline was on the menu, as the hosts suffered one yellow to top two reds, and the Stormers also contributed their own yellow card.
On the plus side though, outside center Ruhan Nel put in an excellent performance in midfield and dominated the game, especially in the first half.
HOW IT HAPPENED | London Irish v Stormers
Winger Angelo Davids could have delivered the first blunt blow as the Stormers pounced on an Irish attacking error, Nel charging, collecting and running.
Nel fed SA Sevens speedster Davids, who had the line beckoning, but the winger was unable to control the pass after seven minutes.
But the Stormers eventually opened the scoring first via a 14th-minute penalty attempt from a 5-meter line that Irish failed to stop. The Irish also suffered a yellow card for number 6 José Luis González, who bit them in a big way minutes later.
The drama occurred on the 17ththe-minute in which Davids thought he had scored after another break in midfield by Nel. But the last ball to fly wing Manie Libbok went forward.
However, Libbok was caught in a head-on collision while making the pass, leading to a red card for London’s Irish fullback Ben Loader.
The home crowd didn’t like it, but those red cards for head contact have been scattered throughout the Champions League this weekend, with Cobus Wiese (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) and Jack O’Donoghue (Sale Sharks). Munster) expelled. .
The hosts were left with 13 players for more than six minutes. The cost to the Stormers was that the Springbok Libbok failed to make it out of the tunnel after assessment of his head injury, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu taking his place as pivot.
The Irish battled for over 10 minutes, but Nel, who had the biggest influence on overall play in the first half, intercepted to score the Stormers’ second try and give the visitors a breather in the scoring.
Soon, Feinberg-Mngomezulu made his mark on the game, stringing together passes at will before spiking a ball behind the Irish defense for Suleiman Hartzenberg to rally, beat a pair and score before half-time.
The hosts started the second half in the worst form imaginable when substitute prop Ciaran Parker received a straight red card for head contact which left the referees few options.
The Stormers had two men up and 21 points for the good guys after shutting out Irish in the first half.
On third down, wing Davids finally got his try in the most rudimentary fashion after Dan du Plessis stripped him of the ball, before passing him, which curled to the left wing in a very lucky Stormers sequence.
The home team finally got something on the board via a penalty try in the same circumstances as the Stormers in the first half, a 5m line into the same corner.
Rather than capitulate, the Irish fought back well to earn another try through Danilo Fischetti with less than two minutes to go.
Goalscorers:
London Irish 14 (0)
Tries: penalty trial, Fischetti Danilo
Conversions: Rory Jennings
Storms 28 (21)
Tries: Penalty Trial, Ruhan Nel, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Angelo Davids
Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3)
