Engelbrecht’s brace fires Stormers past Rebels

Stormers defeated Melbourne Rebels 34-18 in Cape Town on Friday to record their first Super Rugby victory in four attempts and extend the Australian side’s winless run.

The South African franchise had lost their last three matches, to domestic opponents Bulls, Lions and Sharks, but they stopped the rot at Newlands, where JJ Engelbrecht claimed a brace of tries.

Damian de Allende and Dillyn Leyds also crossed for the hosts, while the boot of Damian Willemse contributed 14 points in a victory that leaves Stormers third in the South African Conference, and ninth overall.

The Rebels remain second in the Australian Conference thanks to their strong start to the season, and are seventh overall, but have now lost their last four matches.

FULL TIME | We leave Newlands empty-handed and now look ahead to heading home to suit up against the Crusaders. #STOvREB pic.twitter.com/YFaTb17H8Z

— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) April 27, 2018

After Rebels’ Jack Debreczeni sent over two penalties either side of one from Willemse early on, De Allende burst through a tackle and then advanced beyond the visitors’ defence to open the scoring in the 16th minute.

With seven minutes to go in the half, Willemse’s pass out to the left played in Pieter-Steph du Toit, who unselfishly offloaded for Engelbrecht to score, as Stormers went in 17-6 ahead at the break.

It took just four minutes of the second half for Leyds to extend his team’s advantage by chasing and grounding Dewaldt Duvenage’s grubber kick.

Sefa Naivalu crossed unmarked on the right to score the Rebels’ first try of the match after the patient away team recycled possession through 18 phases.

And Naivalu bagged another in the 76th minute, going over down the right again after a series of pick and drives from the Rebels.

Stormers had the last word, though, Engelbrecht slicing through the opposition’s defensive line after some slick handling down the right to cap off the win with another try from the last passage of play in the match.

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