A DHL Stormers XXIII took a dominant 45-14 win over the visiting Seattle Seawolves at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday. The home side outscored their guests nine tries to two, with a halftime score of 17-7. It was the first runout of the preseason for the Major League Rugby side.
The South African outfit featured nine starters who had appeared in URC or Champions Cup action this season. Among them were Scotland international Oli Kebble and South Africa ‘A’ select Dewaldt Duvenage. Four of the reserves had senior Stormers appearances in recent months, including former San Diego Legion prop Hencus van Wyk.
Try-scorers for the Stormers included two from Suleiman Hartezenberg and singles for Keke Morabe, Josh Boulle, Joel Leotlela, Jean-Luc du Plessis, and Olly Reid. Scoring details for the Seawolves were not immediately available.
The friendly was part of a two-week training camp for Seattle players in Cape Town. A second preseason match will take place against the Hartford Harpooners at Starfire Stadium next Saturday afternoon. The Seawolves open their 9th MLR campaign against Old Glory DC in Tukwila on April 3.
DHL STORMERS XXIII
1 Oli Kebble, 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 3 Herman Lubbe, 4 Connor Evans, 5 Gary Porter, 6 Louw Nel, 7 Divan Fuller, 8 Keke Morabe, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage (capt.), 10 Jurie Matthee, 11 Joel Leotlela, 12 Jonathan Roche, 13 Josh Boulle, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 15 JC Mars
Replacements: Luca Bakkes, Olly Reid, Hencus van Wyk, Vernon Paulo, Tom Barnard, Reuben Kruger, Torren February, Adeeb Borraine, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Luke Burger, Bruce Sherwood, Mfundo Ndhlovu
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Harison Mataele, 6 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 André Warner, 10 Davy Coetzer, 11 Michael Hand, 12 Lauina Futi, 13 Mark Bennett, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Divan Rossouw
Replacements: Dewald Kotze, Liki Chan-Tung, Dewald Donald, LaRome White, Ignacio Péculo, Charlie Walsh, Callum Botchar, Tia’i Vavao, Kalisi Moli, Graeme Pedegana, JP Smith, Dorian Jones, Calvin Liulamaga, Duncan Matthews