Dragons’ worst season confirmed by loss to Stormers

United Rugby Championship

Stormers (14) 48

Tries: Simelane 2, Senatla, Ungerer, Willemse, Hartzenberg, De Wet Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 3, Willemse 2 Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Dragons (0) 12

Dragons’ worst season was confirmed with their 16th successive loss in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Defeat by Stormers means they cannot better their previous lowest points tally in a one-division version of the competition’s 24 years.

Ironically that fate was sealed despite one of their better displays.

Few gave them a chance of victory in Cape Town even before Stormers opened the scoring after just 73 seconds.

It was a tough scoreline for Dragons after so much effort but was the least those inside the DHL Stadium had expected after Wandisile Simelane sped past Harry Wilson in the second minute.

Even the most optimistic Dragons fan must have feared the worst.

But reaching for the record books proved premature as they held out until just four minutes before half-time.

They had Stormers’ over-confidence, a yellow card and full-back Huw Anderson to thank for that.

Seabelo Senatla somersaulted over for Stormers’ second but captain Salmaan Moerat was sin binned and against seven forwards, Dragons closed the gap to 14-5 when fit again Ben Carter shoved Wainwright over from close range early in the second half.

However, the Dragons’ lineout faltered too often and eventually allowed Stefan Ungerer to cross from distance before Damian Willemse capped his 100th appearance with a try.

Soon-to-retire Dragons veteran Dan Lydiate made his 150th league appearance but it could be his last after leaving on the back of a medical buggy following a head injury.

Trailing 29-5, Dragons mustered a response and again Anderson was pivotal, snagging Simelane behind the try-line.

From the resulting scrum, Aneurin Owen thundered into the defensive line before Blacker snuck over.

But when Stormers’ passes stuck they were simply electric and they finally showed their class with three late scores to all-but secure their place in the play-offs.

Stormers: Warrick Gelant; Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stefan Ungerer; Vernon Matongo, Joseph Dweba, Sazi Sandi, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos.

Replacements: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Zachary Porthen, Connor Evans, Louw Nel, Paul de Wet, Dan du Plessis, Suleiman Hartzenberg.

Sin bin: Moerat (39)

Dragons: Huw Anderson; Harry Rees-Weldon, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Angus O’Brien (co-capt), Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (co-capt), Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Joe Davies, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dane Blacker, Lloyd Evans, Ashton Hewitt.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (SARU), Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)