Match Report: Stormers see off 13-man London Irish

Match Report: Stormers see off 13-man London Irish

Stomers secured their second win in Heineken Champions Cup Pool B as they cruised to a 0-0 victory at 13-man London Irish on Sunday.

The South African outfit made it back-to-back victories over the Gallagher Premiership side as a penalty try and further scores from Ruhan Nel, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Angelo Davids earned them maximum points in Brentford.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Irish as they saw Ben Loader and Ciaran Parker sent off in a third straight pool stage defeat, though they were far from disgraced amid their numerical disadvantage, notching through a penalty try and Danilo Fischetti in the second half.

DHL Stomers were ahead on 13 minutes as a cleverly worked maul was dragged down on the line, resulting in a penalty try and a yellow card for Irish flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez.

The hosts looked to have conceded a second try four minutes later, but the TMO revealed that DHL Stormers fly-half Manie Libbok’s pass to wing Davids went forward.



   
   

However, the officials also spotted a high tackle on Libbok by Irish full-back Ben Loader, who was sent off amid no mitigation and a high degree of danger.

Irish continued to plug away despite their reduced numbers, but it proved to be a fruitless first half – fly-half Rory Jennings dragged a penalty wide from in front of the posts on 25 minutes.

DHL Stormers would then grab their second try as centre Nel flew out the defensive line to intercept and cruise under the posts from just inside the Irish half.

A third try came three minutes before the break as Sacha Mngomezulu, on for Libbok after he was injured in the clash with Loader, stabbed a smart kick in behind the Irish defence, with wing Hartzenberg gathering and stepping inside to finish.

Irish’s afternoon became even more difficult two minutes after the restart as replacement prop Parker, who had come off the bench at half-time, was dismissed for an illegal clear-out.

     
     

Davids then secured the bonus point for DHL Stormers as he scooped up a kick forward from centre Daniel du Plessis and dotted down.

However, the 13 men of Irish got themselves on the board on 50 minutes as a rumbling maul earned them a penalty try in a carbon copy of DHL Stormers’ opening score.

The visitors’ captain Steven Kitshoff was sent to the sin bin amid the cynical infringement, but the contest would fizzle out of the final half an hour.

Replacement prop Fischetti powered over on 76 minutes to see Irish end the game on a positive, with Nel squandering the chance to add a fifth try for DHL Stormers as he knocked on when grounding.

In the final round of pool stage games next weekend, London Irish travel to Montpellier Hérault Rugby on Sunday, with DHL Stormers hosting ASM Clermont Auvergne the day prior.

       
       

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