Stormers eventually slay Dragons

The Stormers celebrate scoring a try during their United Rugby Championship match against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday.
Image: Gallo Images

The Stormers clicked into gear in the nick of time as they downed the Dragons 44-21 in their United Rugby Championship (URC) match in Newport on Friday.

They dominated the final quarter scoring four dazzling tries to slay their gallant hosts but they spent far more time on the back foot than they intended.

As fleet footed as they were at the end as leaden they were in the opening half-hour.

The impact from their bench and the boot of Manie Libbok potentially saved their blushes against the team second last on the points table.

The Stormers were disjointed for much of the first half but they put their boot to profitable use when it mattered.

They struggled to find rhythm and a foothold in the game and their cause was not aided by the scrum becoming a lottery.

In a week in which the scrum has been placed into sharp focus referee Chris Busby appeared to do his bit to draw more attention to the set piece.

The scrums in this match generally ended with the long arm of the referee applying his interpretation of the law.

Eventually though the Stormers came to grips with their opponents.

Passive at the start and lacking vitality, the Stormers found themselves on the back foot.

Apart from the odd crunching gang