Stormers blow Glasgow away in top of the table clash

The DHL Stormers banished the ghosts of their shock URC defeat to Connacht last weekend with a 48-12 pummelling of league leaders Glasgow Warriors in Cape Town.

The hosts flew out of the blocks, loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu crossing twice in the opening 14 minutes as forward power and sharp execution put Glasgow immediately on the back foot.

In form No.8 Evan Roos finished a slick move on the half-hour and Stormers went to the break 24-12 ahead, with Glasgow staying in touch through tries from Ollie Smith and hooker Gregor Hiddleston, the latter forcing his way over from close range.

Any hope of a fightback evaporated soon after half-time.

Adam Hastings was yellow-carded early in the second period [the away side’s second after Jack Dempsey’s sin-binning after 12 minutes] and Stormers ruthlessly took control, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu orchestrating proceedings.

His grubber set up Ruhan Nel for a well-taken try that effectively ended the contest, before the fly-half added a try of his own on 71 minutes.

A late score from Keke Morabe completed a six-try demolition.

The result knocks Franco Smith’s side off the top of the log, with Stormers edging ahead of the Scots on points difference.

DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse; Wandisile Simelane, Ruhan Nel (C), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach; Ntuthuko Mchunu, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché; Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden; Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos.

Replacements: JJ Kotzé, Oli Kebble, Zachary Porthen, Marcel Theunissen, Keke Morabe, Imad Khan, Jurie Matthee, Markus Muller

Glasgow Warriors: Kyle Rowe; Kyle Steyn (C), Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Ollie Smith; Adam Hastings, Ben Afshar; Patrick Schickerling, Gregor Hiddleston, Zander Fagerson; Ryan Burke, Alex Samuel; Euan Ferrie, Angus Fraser, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, Dylan Cockburn, Jare Oguntibeju, Sione Vailanu, Stafford McDowall, Jack Oliver