Cape Town – May 10, 2025 – The DHL Stormers delivered an emotional and emphatic 48-12 win over Dragons RFC in Cape Town, not just securing a valuable bonus-point victory in the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoff race, but also sending off their 40-year-old front row stalwart Brok Harris in fitting fashion—against the only other team he ever represented.
In a match that blended sentiment with supremacy, the Stormers’ performance scoring seven tries to two, was both a celebration and a statement. For the Dragons, it was another tough chapter in a season marked by struggle, though a spirited second-half cameo provided flickers of resilience.
Stormers set the tone early
It took just over 60 seconds for the Cape Town faithful to erupt. Outside centre Wandisile Simelane sliced through the Dragons defence, stepping the fullback with surgical precision to score under the posts and set the tone for the afternoon. Despite heavy rains earlier in the day, the conditions cleared in time for kickoff, but the Stormers’ tactical kicking was erratic—often overhit or poorly weighted—giving the Dragons intermittent reprieves.
Still, the home side dominated territory and possession. Although flanker Marcel Theunissen was held up in the 20th minute, the pressure eventually told. A quick-thinking line-out from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu caught the visitors napping, allowing Seabelo Senatla to finish off a thrilling coast-to-coast movement he’d sparked himself.
Damian Willemse, in his 100th appearance, then joined the party with a try in the corner, though it was controversially scrubbed off after TMO intervention due to a ruck infringement from captain Salmaan Moerat. The Stormers went into the break 14-0 up—dominant, yet with a sense of unfinished business.
Dragons show fight, Stormers find another gear
The visitors from Newport came out firing after the interval. Number eight Aaron Wainwright powered over for an unconverted try, narrowing the gap to 14-5. But their hopes were short-lived. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s penalty nudged the lead to 17-5, and minutes later, Stefan Ungerer sniped down the blindside to score the Stormers’ third try.
Willemse, denied in the first half, wouldn’t be denied again. His 100th cap was sealed with a bonus-point try, capping off a backline move orchestrated by Warrick Gelant, whose vision and pace were a class above.
Dragons clawed back a late try through replacement Dane Blacker to make it 29-12, but the floodgates had opened. Tries from Paul de Wet and Suleiman Hartzenberg, both showcasing clinical Stormers interplay and support running, blew the score out. Willemse added the final conversion for a 48-12 finish.
What This Means in the URC Context
For the Stormers, the result is pivotal. The bonus-point win keeps them in the thick of the playoff hunt and enhances their prospects of securing a home quarterfinal. With key players like Willemse peaking at the right time and depth emerging off the bench, John Dobson’s side looks poised for a strong finish.
For the Dragons, it’s another step in a rebuilding journey. Despite brief flashes—particularly from Wainwright and Blacker—the Welsh outfit remains at the wrong end of the table. Yet their spirited response after halftime showed they haven’t checked out, a necessary attitude as they continue to develop younger talent in a transitional season.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just another URC game. It was a curtain call for a veteran prop whose career has spanned continents and decades—and it was done in style. For the Stormers, it was both a tribute and a warning shot: they’re not done yet this season.
The Stormers next host another Welsh side, Cardiff, in Cape Town next Friday in what will be their last round-robin game before the playoffs.
Scorers:
Stormers 48 (14)
Tries: Wandisile Simelane (2), Seabelo Senatla, Stefan Ungerer, Damian Willemse, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Paul de Wet
Conversions: Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu (3), Willemse (2)
Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Dragons 12 (0)
Tries: Aaron Wainwright, Dane Blacker
