DHL STADIUM – The DHL Stormers launched their Investec Champions Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, thrashing Bristol Bears 49-12 at DHL Stadium on Saturday in a dominant display of attacking rugby.
The hosts welcomed back Evan Roos for his first appearance of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury, with Hacjivah Dayimani ruled out due to concussion. However, head coach John Dobson suffered a late setback when captain Ruhan Nel was ruled out through injury, allowing Wandisile Simelane to start at outside centre.
After six minutes of intense exchanges in the scrums, the Stormers broke the deadlock through speedster Seabelo Senatla, who raced down the touchline to score in the corner. Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to give the home side a 7-0 lead.
The Stormers continued to exploit gaps in the Bristol defence, although Cobus Reinach had an early try ruled out following a knock-on by winger Leolin Zas. Zas made amends in the 15th minute, finishing off a superb attacking move after Senatla had beaten the visitors’ defence to set up his wing partner. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted for a 14-0 advantage.
Bristol responded through flanker Joe Owen in the 22nd minute, with Sam Worsley adding the conversion to reduce the deficit to 14-7. However, the Stormers restored their two-score cushion when inside centre Jonathan Roche crossed for their third try in the 28th minute, taking the score to 21-7.
The hosts were reduced to 14 men in the 34th minute when hooker JJ Kotze received a red card for direct head contact with Bristol scrumhalf Kieran Marmion. Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed a late penalty, leaving the Stormers 21-7 ahead at half-time.
The second half began with further drama when Reinach intercepted a Bristol pass and raced over the line, only for the try to be disallowed after Zas was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous high tackle. Bristol capitalised two minutes later, with Sol Moody crossing to make it 21-12.
Roche restored the Stormers’ momentum in the 53rd minute, scoring his second try of the match to extend the lead to 28-12. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the home side continued to dictate proceedings.
Replacement fullback Warrick Gelant crossed in the 71st minute before substitute Andre-Hugo Venter finished off a powerful rolling maul two minutes later, pushing the score to 42-12.
The Stormers saved their best for last, with Siya Kolisi linking up with Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who passed to Zas to complete his hat-trick and seal a convincing 49-12 victory.
The result gave the Stormers a commanding start to their European campaign.
