DAVID SHAPSHAK, Cape Town | Saturday 7.00pm.
THE ACT Brumbies recorded their first win on South African soil with a four try to none 29-15 win over the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
Flanker Owen Finegan set up a solid platform with two first half tries and Stirling Mortlock converted the second try just before the break to give them a 12-9 lead.
Percy Montgomery drew the scores level with a penalty just after the restart, adding to his three first half goals.
After the bream, however, Mortlock crossed and converted his own try set up by a darting break from scrumhalf George Gregan.
The home team were guilty of losing possession through knock-ons. Mortlock’s try led from a dropped ball as new flyhalf Robert Markram waited to clear from his own scrum inside his 22.
Poor showings so far have forced coach Stormers Alan Solomons, also the assistant Springbok coach, to change his crucial half-back pairing. Veteran Dan van Zyl came on for Dave von Hoessllin while Markram replaced Braam van Straaten.
But against the experienced Wallaby pairing of man-of-the-match Gregan and Stephen Larkham, who hardly missed a beat, directly play expertly.
The visitors kept their composure, playing the ball wide and recycling it through multiple phases with telling bursts.
After Mortlock’s close-quarter try, Montgomery kept his side in the hunt with another penalty, to draw it back to 19-15.
But Mortlock drew ahead with a penalty, then replacement flank Ipoolito Fenuktiau scored a try which Mortlock converted to put it beyond doubt. The Australian’s collected a fifth point, along with the four for a win, for their four-try quota.
The result should boost the Brumbies confidence ahead of next Saturday’s appointment against the Northern Bulls in Pretoria, but bodes badly for the Stormers ahead of their grueling four match Australasian tour.