The Lions have strengthened their position in the top eight of the Vodacom URC after a gritty win over the Stormers at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The Joburg-based outfit scored three tries to claim a 24-10 win and hand John Dobson’s charges their third straight defeat.
From the early stages, the Stormers looked rusty, with several handling errors and conceding a scrum penalty within the first 10 minutes of the game.
In the second quarter, the Lions finally broke the Stormers defence through a box kick from scrumhalf Morné van den Berg which was beautifully plucked out of the air by winger Angelo Davids. Some slick handling then saw young gun Siba Mahashe sprinting to the line to open the scoring. Flyhalf Chris Smith struck it sweetly to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.
Sibabalwe Mahashe keeps on delivering for the Lions
He gets his second try in two matches
Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/amjFUW1nyh
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 28, 2026
The Lions then started settling into their game and just four minutes later, it was centre Henco van Wyk who crashed over. Smith once again successful with the conversion to double the hosts’ lead.
That seemed to spark the Cape side into action, as they put several promising phases together, but the litany of handling errors put paid to any momentum they built up.
The visitors did cross the line in the 30th minute through centre Wandisile Simelane, but referee Christopher Allison deemed him to have been held up.
ALSO: Cardiff shock Leinster to leapfrog Stormers
The Stormers started the second half looking much more assured, and were rewarded with their first points of the match through a penalty goal from flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. But the Lions hit straight back through a try from utility back Erich Cronjé. Smith was once again on target with the conversion.
Coach John Dobson then emptied the bench in a bid to spark a turnaround for his team. It seemed to work as the scrum became dominant.
A maul from a lineout close to the Lions line saw replacement loose forward Marcel Theunissen barrel over, but the try was disallowed after the TMO found that No 8 Evan Roos had caused an obstruction in the lead-up.
That, however, didn’t deter the visitors as they eventually got their first try, scored by captain JD Shickerling. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to reduce the gap to 11 points.
Quick hands = Silky try
@vodacom #URC | #ExtraOrdinaryLeague pic.twitter.com/FKsersHwCu
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) February 28, 2026
Smith restored the Lions’ 14-point lead with a penalty goal just before the start of the final quarter.
The Stormers ramped up the pressure in the final quarter, but had nothing to show for it despite the Lions losing two players to the sin bin – both for high tackles. Ivan van Rooyen’s men were resolute in defence and repelled wave after wave of Stormers attack.
LIONS – Tries: Siba Mahashe, Henco van Wyk, Erich Cronje. Conversions: Chris Smith (3). Penalty: Smith
STORMERS – Try: JD Shickerling. Conversion: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Lions maul Stormers in Joburg appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Lions have strengthened their position in the top eight of the Vodacom URC after a gritty win over the Stormers at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The post Lions maul Stormers in Joburg appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
