Stormers blow away Eagles

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The DHL Stormers XV scored 10 tries on route to an emphatic pre-season victory against the SWD Eagles in George on Friday.

The clash at Outeniqua Park, which ended 64-26, saw 28 Stormers players get some valuable game time, with more pre-season fixtures to come at the same venue next Friday against SWD and the Sharks.

It did not take long for the scoreboard to tick over as Stormers centre Mnombo Zwelendaba crossed the whitewash after a dominant period in the 22 from the visitors.

The hosts took the lead when hooker Steph Leonard burst over in the corner, with the touchline conversion making it 7-5.

The Stormers went back in front when flyhalf Jurie Matthee dotted down, and there were further tries from scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer, fullback Clayton Blommetjies and lock Gary Porter, before the Eagles responded with their second via No 15 Josh Vermeulen.

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John Dobson’s charges had the final say before the break, with a maul try from veteran hooker Scarra Ntubeni, which made it 38-14 at half time.

Centre Juan de Jongh scored early in the second half before rolling back the years with a Gangnam Style celebration, to the delight of the crowd.

The SWD Eagles responded with a third try, before Courtnall Skosan showed good pace to finish, taking a well-timed pass from Godlen Masimla.

JJ Kotze got on the scoresheet after Hendre Stassen had collected a cross-kick from Warrick Gelant, and prop Lizo Gqoboka followed that up by powering over from close range for the tenth try.

The Eagles scored once more against the run of play, with a long-range grubber finding its mark on the counter-attack to end on a high for the home side.

Scorers:
DHL Stormers XV: Tries: Zwelendaba, Matthee, Ungerer, Blommetjies, Porter, Ntubeni, De Jongh, Skosan, Kotze, Gqoboka. Conversions: Matthee (7).
SWD Eagles: Tries: Leonard, Vermeulen, Yaya, Booysen. Conversions: Vermeulen (3).

Photo: @THESTORMERS/Twitter

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