DAVID SHAPSHAK, Cape Town | Sunday 5.15pm.
FLYHALF Braam van Straaten contributed 28 points as the Stormers claimed a vital Super 12 bonus point by beating the ill-disciplined Hurricanes 43-23 at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday.
Van Straaten, the front runner for the Springbok number 10 berth, charged over for the fourth try as well as kicking four conversions and five penalties.
Although Christian Cullen scored a try in either half, the Stormers still outscored the visitors by four tries, leading 23-16 at the break.
The Hurricanes, who have been awarded 12 of the 48 yellow and red cards so far in the tournament and are missing the suspended All Black giant Jonah Lomu, again displayed poor discipline and dangerous play.
Prop Kevin Yates, who has already been sent off this season, added to the Hurricanes’ reputation for bad discipline and was lucky to go unpunished for punching a prone Hendrik Gerber. Replacement flank Matua Parkinson also escaped censure for a dangerous shoulder charge on Dan van Zyl, while Tama Tuirirangi escaped with a penalty for racking.
The Stormers however, put on a fine display of running rugby – although the five points may be too late for them to make the semi-finals. The Hurricanes now lie fifth with 28 point, while Stormers are seventh with 26 points.
Mercurial Springbok wing Breyton Paulse showed why he’s the top South African finisher in the competition, finishing off a Percy Montgomery break down the side to dot down under the posts. Van Straaten converted, adding to an earlier penalty.
But the Hurricanes, missing wingers Jonah Lomu and Tana Umga, showed as much flair when Alama Ieremia took a gap and offloaded to Christian Cullen to score. Flyhalf David Holwell converted, after Daryl Lilley had slotted two earlier penalties, to tie the scores at 13.
However, a hands in the ruck offence by the Hurricane gave Van Straaten a chance to edge the home team ahead — only for Holwell to reply.
But replacement flank Janneman Brand intercepted a wayward pass that Van Straaten converted for the 23-16 half time lead.
Cullen scored almost a carbon copy try after the restart. The conversion tied the scores again.
However, the man-of-the-match Pieter Rossouw broke through the middle setting up a try for hooker Charl Marais. Van Straaten converted and added two more penalties, before crashing over himself and converting it for a 20 point win.
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