Match Report: Northampton Saints 29 – 45 DHL Stormers

Northampton Saints and DHL Stormers served up an entertaining 12-try exhibition match in their first-ever meeting at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

A thrilling first half delivered seven tries as Will Glister grabbed a brace and Burger Odendaal crossed against his fellow countrymen. But the South African visitors went in at the break 26-19 ahead courtesy of Wandisile Simelane, Keke Morabe, Junior Pokomela and Stefan Ungerer tries.

Jake Garside and Sam Graham struck in the second-half for Saints either side of Connor Evans and Hacjivah Dayumani for the United Rugby Championship outfit who completed a 45-29 win when Pokomela landed his second score of the game in stoppage time.

FIRST HALF

It was Saints who struck first as visiting fullback Warrick Gelant lobbed a speculative infield pass that flew over its intended target, bouncing up off the turf and into the hands of Glister to race home from 40 metres out with just four minutes on the clock. Charlie Savala added the extras.

Stormers hit back with two tries in three minutes as Simelane grubbered infield and then fly-hacked over the line to ground, before Morabe picked up loose ball at the breakdown on halfway to run home untouched. Juri Matthee converted the latter to put his side five points ahead.

Odendaal’s barnstorming break took Saints from just inside their own half and into the opposition’s 22, but desperate defence prevailed despite good support play from Callum Braley and Tom Litchfield.

After winning a scrum penalty and clearing up to halfway, Stormers landed a third as Pokomela finished from close range after an excellent kicking exchange between half-backs  Ungerer and Matthee unlocked the defence.

Saints pulled themselves back within five points on the half-hour mark as Juarno Augustus cantered free from halfway and Glister was on hand to take Odendaal’s pass to finish, with Savala landing the conversion.

There was time for a try apiece before the break as Ungerer tapped a close-range penalty to dive over under the posts, then Odendaal responded for Saints, running on to Braley’s pass to finish powerfully from a few metres out. Savala’s conversion struck a post as the hosts trailed by seven at the break.

SECOND HALF

Both teams set about utilising their deep benches as Saints welcomed Tom Seabrook back to action for the first time since December. After a scoreless third quarter, it was Seabrook who provided the assist to put Jake Garside in the left corner to cash in on an excellent exchange between Sam Graham and Litchfield. Savala missed the tricky conversion attempt that would’ve levelled the scores.

Entering the final ten minutes, Stormers landed their fifth try of the encounter when Godlen Masimla intercepted a pass and was superbly stopped by Savala, only for his offload to land in lock Evans’ hands to finish. 

Saints were knocking on the door for a converted try that would’ve levelled matters when a knock on deep in the 22 was pounced upon by Masimla who wiseley chipped ahead for Dayimani to gather and dot down before whipping off his Stormers shirt to reveal a Saints jersey!

An entertaining match delivered two more tries as a neat lineout move saw hooker Robbie Smith gun a low throw into the hands of the onrushing Graham who wasn’t being stopped from five metres out. 

But the last laugh was Stormers’ when Pokomela grabbed his second with the final play of the game. 

Saints attentions now turn to one final exhibition match back at the Gardens on Friday 15 March (7.45pm). Tickets are available by clicking HERE.

LINE UPS

SAINTS: 15 J Garside, 14 Glister, 13 Litchfield, 12 Odendaal, 11 Sleighthome, 10 Savala, 9 Braley; 1 Iyogen, 2 S Matavesi, 3 Davison, 4 Lockett, 5 Munga, 6 Scott-Young, 7 Ludlam (c), 8 Augustus.
Replacements: Smith, Cruse, A Waller, E Waller, Hill, Mayanavanua, Moon, Irvine, Sylvester, Graham, James, Hutchinson, Seabrook, Baker, Garside. 

STORMERS: 15 Gelant, 14 Hollis, 13 Simelane, 12 du Plessis, 11 Loader, 10 Matthee, 9 Ungerer; 1 Harris (c), 2 Kotze, 3 Sandi, 4 Porter, 5 Evans, 6 Engelbrecht, 7 Pokomela, 8 Morabe.
Replacements: Soloman, Lyons, Mazibuko, Ntubeni, Dixon, Xaba, Theunissen, Masimla, Dayimani, Markus, Hartzenberg.