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Nothnagel in the air. Quick ball infield to Sadie who drives up onto the 10. Wide to the right through the hands before Cronje shifts back infield. Nothnagel gets caught behind the gainline. Wide to the left wing where Kriel is wrapped in contact. Zeilinga with a long pass back to Simelane who is caught on his own 10, so Zeilinga goes to the boot now to make up some ground. Senatla returns into the Lions 22. Sangweni with the carry up the left wing into contact. 

Maxwane with a huge chase on the restart! He's gathered the ball inside the 22 on the fly, but is caught isolated and the Stormers drive him right off the ball. Back for Van Reenen who clears into touch.

It was a very narrow win over the Sharks in round 3 for the Lions, with a last minute penalty finally splitting the two sides in what looked like a match that would end in a draw. It's been some narrow results against the Stormers as well, losing to the Bulls by 5 points after a try that wasn't with Augustus losing the ball forward in-goal, and a single-point loss against the Cheetahs thanks to a late penalty in Cape Town in the opening round. 

Mbonambi is stopped short by Tshituka as he tries to carry into contact. Recycled back to Van Reenen who is in the pocket and drops it over the crossbar!

Huge scrum from the Stormers and they get the penalty! Vermaak puts huge pressure on Sadie who is wheeling away under the pressure. 

Schoeman in the air, but there's obstruction in the maul attempt. Penalty Stormers. 

Van Reenen adds the extras from out on the left wing. 

Time off as they are going to check that knock from Van Reenen. Jacobs also wants to check whether Maxwane was even onside from the kick. 

The Lions have a bit of dominance, but they aren't driving straight at all. Advantage called to the home side. Popped up to the blindside before the shift infield to Orie who carries up in the midfield against his former team. Advantage over on the wing, but another one called as the Lions aren't rolling away on the ground. Penalty given as the Stormers can't get the ball out as a result. Van Reenen sets up the lineout in the corner with a great kick. 

Van Reenen sets up the lineout inside the 22. Moerat at the front of the lineout brings it down into the maul. It takes some time to actually get it inching forward before the Lions halt it again. Quick ball infield to Du Plessis who smashes into contact. Roos with the pick and drive, but he's knocked it on. 

Onfield decision is try this time, but Jacobs wants to check that Sadie hasn't lost that ball forward and that Dreyer hasn't then played the ball on the ground. 

Van Reenen opts to line this one up again, adding another three to his tally from just to the left. 

It's one last big game for these two franchises before they take on a new challenge in the Rainbow Cup next month. The Stormers are back at home this week against the Lions, with the home side having struggled in this preparation series. The Stormers have won just one match so far, against the Griquas in the second round. The Lions are unbeaten so far, having dispensed of the Pumas, the Elephants, and the Sharks in the first three rounds. 

Van Reenen adds the extras from out on the right of the posts. 

Quick ball off the top to Zeilinga who goes to clear but can't find touch. Van Reenen sends the long pass infield to Petersen who carries up towards the defense before flicking it over the top to the left. Advantage called as the Lions are caught slowing down the breakdown ball again. Shift back infield for Van Reenen who tries to put the chip over the top, but it's charged down. Back for the penalty. 

AJ Jacobs is the man in the middle this afternoon, while Aimee Barrett-Theron is on TMO duty. 

Jantjies sets up the lineout just short of the 10. Schoeman at the front of the lineout and the maul is formed. They quickly drive it up to the 10, and Fouche is pinged for coming in at the side and collapsing the movement. 

Van Reenen sets up the lineout. Stolen by Massyn! Quick ball wide to Simelane who offloads to Pienaar on the wing. It's loose ball as he goes down and Du Plessis pounces. He carries up into contact. Recycled wide to the right and the Lions turn it over on the ground only to have the Stormers drive them right back off the line. Quick hands through to the left and Nel with the break! He's got a huge gap in front of him, charges right through it before popping it up to Du Plessis on his inside as the cover defense comes across. Du Plessis dragged down 2m short, but Senatla is there running the support line to take the pop and run it in under the sticks. 

it's been a great performance from the Stormers and a rather poor one from the Lions this evening. The home side kept the Lions from scoring any points until the 70th minute when Pelser finally went over for the visitors. The Stormers were dangerous on defense, with excellent play over the ball to rip it away on a number of occasions. They were quick to switch back to attack mode, and found great space through the Lions defense who were somewhat slower to react. 

Tap and go from Mbonambi who is dragged down in the corner. Short pop passes infield and the Lions with a great counter ruck! It's thumped downfield by Zeilinga and Petersen opts to keep ball in hand, flying up the left wing with ball in hand. He chips it over the top as he runs towards the cover defense, and the Lions manage to clean up only to throw a horrendously loose pass wide trying to run it out of their 22 and Nel cleans up to dive over!

The Lions this time get the shove on, but Jantjies manages to get the ball out to Willemse who  puts a huge kick downfield! Error from Viljoen as he knocks it on into touch. Taken quickly by the Stormers! Nel flicks it back to Petersen who passes it on to Du Plessis. He's dragged down just short of the tryline, and Petersen knocks it on trying to pick it up on the fly! 

Massyn under enormous pressure as he picks up at the base, and he's isolated in the contact! Xaba wins the penalty for the Stormers. 

Slow ball at the breakdown as the Lions bring it back infield. Cronje chips it over the top to chase as he's called to use it, but Maxwane loses it forward trying to gather under pressure. 

Van Reenen knocks it over from out in front. 

Simelane has to scramble back all the way to his 5m mark to clean up the loose ball under pressure. Popped up to Zeilinga who finds the exit. 

Wide through the hands to Nel who is caught high in the tackle. Advantage called. Back infield to Hendricks who flicks it up for Theunissen. Wide to Petersen who tries to put the grubber ahead, but it's caught the legs of the defense. Back for the penalty. 

A strong scrum from the Stormers, but it's there for the Lions. Quick ball wide through the hands and the chip ahead to chase. Maxwane goes haring after it, but the contest in the air between Van Reenen and Maxwane results in the ball being knocked back by the Stormers flyhalf and over the deadball line. 

While the Stormers have found oodles of space up the wings with the likes of Sergeal Petersen and Seabelo Senatla causing headaches for the Lions defense, the Lions have been quickly shut down in the wide channels. They are going to have to vary their gameplan in the second half and get a bit more creative on attack. 

Kriel sets up the lineout just inside the 22. Quick ball infield, and Cronje knocks the ball on trying to recycle at the breakdown. 

Tap and go from Sadie again. He smashes up into contact. Pick and drives from the Lions as they look to force their way over. Slow ball before Sadie has a second go on the shortside before his fellow prop drives forward, and time off again to check. 

Quick ball off the lineout. Wide to Tshituka who carries into contact on the left wing and he has the ball ripped away! Schickerling goes charging up the midfield, offloading quickly wide to the left wing. Shift back infield where the chip over the top is only just gathered by the Lions. Slow ball from them as they are pinned behind the 5m mark. Back for Zeilinga who clears. 

Straight down at the front, and this time it's a penalty to the Stormers. 

Loose ball and Jacobs gets flattened trying to get out of the way as both sides scramble to clean up. Zeilinga with the kick ahead into the Stormers 22. The home side clean up and Jantjies chips it over the top. Zeilinga wide through the hands and out to Massyn on the wing. He has to step infield to avoid the touchline as Roos grabs him. Back across to the right and the ball is knocked by Wolhuter as he makes the tackle. The Lions clean up and carry back into contact up inside the 22 before losing it forward again. 

Van Reenen with another easy one to add the extras. 

Van Reenen with the kick off. Xaba with a great chase! It's loose ball from the Lions, giving Xaba a chance to clean up. Quick ball infield, and Van Reenen with the grubber through! Senatla gathers on the left wing, charges up the touchline, swings it infield to Nel, and it's popped up to Jantjies who dives over out on the left! 

Zeilinga sets up the lineout inside the 22. Contested in the air, and it eventually comes down on the Stormers side after a bit of a juggle. Xaba the man to take the hit. Slow ball before it's recycled back to Van Reenen who finds the exit. 

Orie with the steal! Back for Van Reenen who clears into touch. 

Orie gathers the restart. Back for Nel who runs a wide circle before taking it up into contact. Out wide to De Wet on the wing who makes it up to halfway before he's dragged down. Popped up infield to Kitshoff to Roos before Jantjies puts the box kick ahead. The Lions gather and spread it wide to the left wing where the ball is lost backwards and toed through by the Stormers. 

Quick ball infield to Du Plessis who knocks it on as he takes his eye off the ball to look at the defense. 

The Lions thump the ball downfield off the back of the lineout, but it's not in touch again. The Stormers carry up through Schickerling into contact. Flicked up for Wolhuter who looked like he'd knocked it on, but they're allowed to keep playing. 

It's been quite a battle at the scrums, with neither side really able to get a clear upper hand at the set piece. Both sides have conceded penalties, and the scrums have had to be reset on multiple occasions as the front rows can't stay upright and straight. The lineouts have been another contest, with the Stormers stealing two Lions balls against the throw and the Lions stealing a Stormers lineout at a crucial moment as well. 

Loose ball from the restart is tapped back by the Stormers but cleaned up by Ntlabakanye. Mbonambi gets over him on the ground to win the penalty!

Short restart, but Roos comes flying up to gather. He's taken in the air, but the players bring him safely down. Back for Van Reenen who chips ahead, and again it's loose off the Lions! Petersen has come flying after it to tap it back for Nel, but the pop pass to the wing is forward. 

Tap and go from Sadie and he's centimetres short. Advantage called again for an offside. Pick and drives from the forwards, and they're over the line! Time off as Jacobs is pretty sure it's held up, but he's calling on Barrett-Theron to check. 

Van Reenen sets up the lineout just over halfway. Schickerling off the top. Infield ball to Roos who drives up in the midfield. Recycled wide to Nel who carries into contact and has the ball ripped away by Simelane. The Lions quickly drive up through Nothnagel, and the penalty is against the Stormers for not rolling. 

Zeilinga doesn't find touch. Wolhuter thumps it back downfield onto Zeilinga who gets man and ball and loses it forward. 

Viljoen hasn't found touch. Infield ball to Willemse who puts a great kick downfield to bounce into touch just short of the Lions 22. 

Loose ball from the restart as the Stormers have knocked it on. It's sloppy from the Lions too, so they'll have to pack down. 