Stormers' Warrick Gelant (R) celebrates with teammate Stefan Ungerer at the end of the European Champions Cup first round day 4, pool 4 Rugby Union match between Stade Francais and Stormers at the Jean-Bouin Stadium, in Paris It what was tightly-contested United Rugby Championship affair for over three quarters of the clash, the Stormers held their hosts scoreless while racking up the points. Seen here: Stormers' Warrick Gelant (right) celebrates. Picture: Geoffroy van der Haselt/AFP
The Stormers earned a hard-fought 36-5 victory over Zebre Parma In their United Rugby Championship match at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Italy, on Saturday.
It what was tightly-contested affair for over three quarters of the clash, the Stormers held their hosts scoreless while racking up the points.
The win made it four from four for the SA teams in the URC over the weekend.
Flyhalf Jurie Matthee scored 14 of the Stormers’ points in the opening stanza, with four penalties and a conversion.
In a tightly-contested first half, the Stormers scored the first try of the match as the hooter for the break sounded. From a slick lineout move, the Stormers unlocked the Dragons defence with Leolin Zas doing the honours to next to the uprights (19-0).
The first points of the second period came when wing Suleiman Hartzenberg beat two defenders to dot down for a try just after the hour mark (24-0).
With the game beginning to open up, the Stormers produced a stunning fast-paced move which allowed Zas to score his side’s third try.
As the contest finally sparked to life, Zebre produced a moment of magic as wing Simone Gesi sprinted down the left touchline before gathering his own chip over the line before falling on the ball for the try (29-5).
Angelo Davids added the final try for the Stormers with time up on the clock, before Damian Willemse converted to make it 36-5 to conclude affairs.
Earlier, the Lions, Bulls and Sharks all tasted victory in their URC clashes. The Lions and the Bulls were at home at Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld respectively, while the Sharks travelled to at Rodney Parade, in Newport.
Both the Lions (55-21) and the Bulls (47-21) ran out comfortable victors, while the Sharks had to work beyond the 80 minutes to secure their hard-earned win. In fact, the Sharks overturned a 17-point deficit to beat Dragons 33-30. With just under 30 minutes played, the Sharks founds themselves 22-5 down before they began to claw their way back into the match.
Finally, Sharks hooker Fez Mbatha scored the match-winning try more than five minutes after the hooter.