DAVID SHAPSHAK, Cape Town | Saturday 5.00pm.
THE under-performing Cats produced a startling upset by beating the log-leading Stormers 18-16 at Newlands Stadium on Saturday.
The Cats, producing one of their best performances in the tournament to, led 10-6 at half time, scoring two tries to one.
It was a tight, tough match between the forwards in perhaps the most anticipated match involving South African teams in the Super 12 – in a week where simmering provincial tensions erupted requiring Springbok coach Nick Mallett to step in and calm things down.
The visitors led from the sixth minute when Naka Drotske scored from an attacking line out.
After converting, Gaffie du Toit showed why he’s considered so highly by slotting a 40 metre drop goal in 27th minute.
However, although the Cats threw away scoring opportunities with numerous unforced errors in the first half, they came out strongly after the break.
Jannie van der Walt charged over from a clever dummy in the 43rd minute.
The home team can blame their dip in form to the unimaginative game they played for most of the match.
Flyhalf Braam van Straaten, who had kept them in the game with two first half penalties, changed this when he chipped a perfectly aimed kick out to Pieter Rossouw on the wing who scored in the corner. Van Straaten converted to take the score to 15-13.
The prodigiously talented Du Toit popped over another drop goal to take 18-15, and with six minutes remaining Van Straaten goaled a penalty with just two points in it.
But the Stormers could not marshal a fight back. Still they have enough points to ensure a home semi-final.