Grant kicks Stormers to tight derby win over Cheetahs

Flyhalf Peter Grant celebrated his return to the Stormers’ starting team by kicking seven penalties in a 21-15 win over the Cheetahs in an all-South African Super rugby match in sweltering conditions on Saturday.

Preferred to Gary Van Aswegen who started against the Lions last Saturday, Grant’s unerring boot was the difference in a tryless affair in which both defences cancelled each other out.

“It wasn’t pretty but we’ll take the win,” said Stormers captain Jean de Villiers after his side’s second straight win in the southern hemisphere’s annual provincial tournament.

“It’s never easy in a local derby, especially against the Cheetahs.”

The Stormers forwards laid the platform for victory by outmuscling the Cheetahs pack, coached by former South Africa prop Os du Randt who was axed as Springbok scrum adviser earlier in the week.

With little attacking play on offer, it was left to Grant and opposite number Naas Olivier to keep the scoreboard ticking along, with the former succeeding with seven from eight and Olivier five from six.

Despite their third successive defeat the Cheetahs salvaged a losing bonus point when Riaan Viljoen succeeded with a long-range penalty after the final hooter. - Reuters