Second-half flex sees champion Stormers down plucky Benetton in Stellies

The Stormers were slow starters, but a second-half flex saw the URC champions down Italy's Benetton 38-22 at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday. 

FT | Stormers 38-22 Benetton

The hosts were still not at their best following back-to-back losses against Exeter Chiefs (Champions Cup) and Munster, but they got better as the game progressed and, by the end, were superior. 

The bonus-point win means the Stormers are momentarily up to second on the URC log, but they will drop back down to third if Ulster beat Edinburgh, as is expected, at home in Friday night's late kick-off. 

That will still be enough to give them a home quarter-final at Cape Town Stadium in two weekends' time. 

The Stormers held a narrow 12-10 lead at half-time, but by the time referee Hollie Davidson blew the final whistle, they had scored 6 tries to three from the Italians. 

A large, vocal crowd arrived for the fixture - the Stormers' first match in Stellenbosch since their season-opening win over Connacht in September - but it didn't take long for the Stormers to know they were in a contest. 

Benetton, after all, are contesting the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup in Toulon next weekend, and while their URC aspirations were all but over heading into this one, they showed their muscle in a tight first 40 minutes. 

Benetton's Argentinean flyhalf Tomas Albornoz gave them an early 3-0 lead with a well-struck penalty early on, but the Stormers had Stellies roaring when Manie Libbok's cross-kick - he had the penalty advantage behind him - found Angelo Davids on the right flank, who gathered well and cut inside to finish. 

The moment of the first half, however, belonged to the visitors, who delivered a superb counter-attack to take back the lead.