The first half was characterised by missed opportunities with both teams making their way close to the tryline on a few occasions but failed to cross the chalk, but the Capetonians shifted to a different gear after the break to put their hosts away.

In the end the only try scored in the first half was a pearler by DHL Stormers No 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, who made a great break through the defence and stepped on the gas to touch down to add to a conversion and penalty goal by Manie Libbok (flyhalf), while the Emirates Lions’ only points were compliments of a penalty goal by flyhalf Tiaan Swanepoel, which saw the visitors take a 10-3 halftime lead.

The Emirates Lions threatened as early as the early as the second minute, as they got close to the tryline only to knock on the ball, and they had further opportunities in the half, which they failed to capitalise on due to a combination of handling errors and solid defence by the Capetonians.

The DHL Stormers also had their chances, with Libbok dancing his way to get through the defence in the ninth minute, but with the team unable to get through, Libbok had to settle for a penalty goal in the 10^th minute for the first points of the match.

Swanepoel responded with a penalty goal minutes later to level the scores, but the difference on the scoreboard going into the break was stunning try by Dayimani, who made a brilliant break in the mid field, and the extra two points by Libbok saw them take a 10-3 lead.

The Cape side picked up where they left off in the second half with Libbok adding his second penalty goal, and they built on this with tries in quick succession by Seabelo Senatla and Sergeal Petersen (both wings) to take a handy 25-3 lead.

Senatla touched down after some nice handling and a magic touch out him, while Petersen received the ball on the short side after some enterprising attack.

Man-of-the match Deon Fourie added their bonus-point try in the 72^nd minute after a beautiful grubber which the opposition failed to gather and the experienced DHL Stormers flanker pounced on it over the tryline to score in their fourth try of the match.

The Emirates Lions refused to give up and scored their only try compliments of Morne van den Berg (replacement scrumhalf), and Jordan Hendrikse’s (replacement flyhalf) conversion pushed their score into double figures for 10 points. This, however, was too little too late for the home side and they were left to settle for a 32-10 defeat.

Scorers:

Emirates Lions 10 (3) – Try: Morne van den Berg. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse. Penalty goal: Swanepoel.

DHL Stormers 32 (10) – Tries: Hacjivah Dayimani, Seabelo Senatla, Sergeal Petersen, Deon Fourie. Conversions: Manie Libbok (3). Penalty goals: Libbok (2).