The Stormers effectively ended the Lions’ hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the Super 14 when they trounced them 30-8 in a one-sided match at Newlands on Saturday.
Kobus van der Merwe’s team carried a deserved 13-3 lead into the break after dominating the early exchanges and growing stronger throughout the half.
The Stormers were almost on the scoreboard as early as the first minute, but the Lions managed to bundle Jean de Villiers over the dead-ball line after the Springbok centre had gathered right wing Breyton Paulse’s kick.
A game of chess ensued, with the Stormers eventually playing the better rugby and monopolising most of the possession.
Flyhalf Peter Grant had them ahead with a penalty in the 21st minute before Springbok pivot Andre Pretorius equalised two minutes later. Grant missed with a second attempt on the half-hour mark, but was spot-on two minutes later to put his side 6-3 up.
The in-form Stormers flyhalf then atoned for his miss by breaking the Lions’ defensive line and dotting down four minutes before the interval. He converted his own try to put his side 13-3 up.
The half-time lead could have been even bigger, but the Lions managed to usher Stormers lock Gerrie Britz into touch after being at sixes and sevens on defence. Britz was the standout performer in a Stormers pack that stood their ground well against a highly rated Lions pack.
It was off this platform that Grant upstaged Pretorius, who had marked himself as the form South African flyhalf in the competition at that stage.
Pretorius, however, could hardly be blamed given that his forwards were back-pedalling much of the time and the Lions were only too eager to give away the possession on which they did manage to get their hands.
It was more of the same in the second half, with the Stormers’ pressure game prevailing.
Springbok centre De Wet Barry scored a crucial try under the posts in the 50th minute after running a splendid line and collecting the ball from Grant.
Grant’s conversion made it 20-3, leaving the Lions with the proverbial mountain to climb. They nevertheless endeavoured to do just that and attacked with gusto.
The Stormers showed determination in the face of the onslaught. However, they were made to pay a price for failing to find touch and the Lions Springbok centre Jaque Fourie finished in the left-hand corner.
Grant, however, struck the decisive blow in the 66th minute when he kept a cool head to put the Stormers 23-8 up with his third penalty.
The Lions again needed three scores to catch the Stormers and, for all intents and purposes, the game was beyond them. Loffie Eloff’s side nevertheless attacked, but were repelled and it was the Stormers that finished the stronger team.
Flank Schalk Burger was denied a try by a TMO decision, but replacement back Naas Olivier hammered in the final nail with 20 seconds left. Grant converted to give the Stormers a comfortable 30-8 victory, which their effort merited. — Sapa