Aaron Wainwright grabbed a try but DHL Stormers continued their impressive home form with victory over spirited Dragons in the BKT United Rugby Championship in Cape Town.
Wainwright burst over at the start of the second period as the Men of Gwent battled hard in South Africa in the penultimate game of the season.
Stormers’ only loss at DHL Stadium this season was by a single point to the Bulls in February, and they never looked likely to surrender that impressive record with a display based on power and speed.
But they were made to work hard by Filo Tiatia’s men who produced a well drilled and strong defensive show for well over an hour after the Head Coach had asked for a display that showed character.
In-form Stormers edged to a 14-0 lead at the break and, after Wainwright’s try, wrapped up the bonus in the second period before Dane Blacker struck back late on.
Three late tries gave the final score a look that did not reflect large parts of the game. Head Coach Filo Tiatia made three changes for the Round 17 fixture with Ben Carter back to co-captain while Harry Wilson and Huw Anderson returned in the back line.
And there was a further late change after Rhodri Jones pulled out in the warm-up and was replaced by Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths in the starting line-up. Owain James came onto the bench.
The home side enjoyed a dream start as centre Wandisile Simelane was sent flying through a midfield gap from the first attack and he cut back inside the final man for a converted score after less than two minutes.
Stormers had flown out of the traps with Anderson having to race back to clear more danger.
A brilliant 50:22 from a free kick bomb from O’Brien gave Dragons a first attacking platform of the game, but ball was spilled as the wet weather that had hit the stadium before kick-off made handling tricky.
Ryan Woodman stole lineout ball to disrupt Stormers while the defence was working hard to break up play and force errors in a congested midfield.
A penalty at scrum time gave the hosts a strong position but again a narrow attack saw spilled ball as Shane Lewis-Hughes and Dan Lydiate came to the fore.
Evan Roos broke a tackle and then found more space before a tap tackle from Wainwright brought down Marcel Theunissen and Anderson brilliantly held him up over the line as the flanker went again.
A flat pass from O’Brien sent Anderson into space before Rees-Weldon supported while Wainwright instigated a choke tackle and turnover.
Dan Lydiate was forced off just before the half hour, on his 150th URC appearance.
The home set piece was getting on top with referee Piardi issuing a warning that a card would soon follow unless action was taken.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, though, made a mess of a long-range penalty attempt that flow well left of the target.
Rosser chased down another O’Brien bomb and Carter and Wainwright carried strongly from the turnover, but Stormers regrouped to win a breakdown penalty.
Stormers clicked four minutes before the break when they worked space and Joseph Dweba produced a lovely offload to send Seabelo Senatla over in the corner.
They scored another two minutes later as slick handling sent Willemse over. But the TMO ruled it out for a croc roll on Lewis-Hughes, with the officials yellow carded home captain Salmaan Moerat.
Dragons started the second half with Langton-Cryer breaking the line before O’Brien’s pass sent Anderson away before he failed to find Rhodri William with the offload.
A penalty at scrum time saw Dragons take a quick tap and the play paid off with Wainwright driven over with Carter for support.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu edged Stormers further ahead with half an hour to play with a penalty, that also took time off the clock with the home side still a man down.
And back to 15 men they struck immediately as a lineout steal saw Theunissen break away and the move was finished off by scrum half Stefan Ungerer for a 22-5 lead.
The bonus point followed before the hour when, on the back of a powerful scrum, Damian Willemse grabbed a score on his 100th game.
A breakout saw the returning Lloyd Evan and Hewitt look to create space before a kick in behind won a five-metre scrum. Owen then cut a sublime line before the alert Blacker dotted down from close range.
Replacement Suleiman Hartzenberg finished off more slick handling out wide before late scores from De Wet and Simelane gave the score line a slant it did not deserve.
Timeline:
02m Simelane t Feinberg-Mngomezulu c 7-0
36m Senatla t Feinberg-Mngomezulu c 14-0
45m Wainwright t 14-5
48m Feinberg-Mngomezulu p 17-5
50m Ungerer t 22-5
56m Willemse t Feinberg-Mngomezulu c 29-5
70m Blacker t Evans c 29-12
74m Hartzenberg t Hartzenberg c 36-12
79m De Wet t Willemse c 43-12
80m Simelane t 48-12
DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer; Vernon Matongo, Joseph Dweba, Sazi Sandi, Salmaan Moerat, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos
Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak, Zachary Porthen, Connor Evans, Louw Nel, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis, Suleiman Hartzenberg
Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson; Harry Rees-Weldon, Harry Wilson (Hewitt 40), Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Angus O’Brien (Evans 64), Rhodri Williams (Blacker 64); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (James 70), Brodie Coghlan (Benjamin 58), Chris Coleman (Latu 52), Ben Carter (Davies 70), Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate (Langton-Cryer 27), Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: James Benjamin, Owain James, Paula Latu, Joe Davies, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dane Blacker, Lloyd Evans, Ashton Hewitt
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 52nd game)
