/ 3 May 2008

Stormers climb to fourth after win over Brumbies

The Stormers climbed to fourth in the Super 14 with a 20-10 victory over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday.

The South Africans scored all their points in a 15-minute purple patch in the first half before holding on as the Brumbies hit back with two tries in the second period.

The Stormers’s fifth successive victory was also their first over the Australians for 10 years.

Captain Jean de Villiers notched the first try after 12 minutes when he outpaced Brumbies skipper Stirling Mortlock to complete an intricate back-line move.

Flyhalf Peter Grant added to his conversion by kicking a 15-metre penalty to give the Stormers a 10-0 lead.

Referee Steve Walsh then awarded the hosts a penalty try when Brumbies flyhalf Christian Lealiifano impeded Stormers centre Gcobani Bobo.

Walsh yellow-carded Lealiifano before Grant converted the penalty try.

The Stormers failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and only added one further penalty by Grant to extend their lead to 20-0 at halftime.

The Brumbies scored their first points 15 minutes into the second half when centre Tyrone Smith evaded two tackles to set up a try for winger Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Lock Peter Kimlin reduced the deficit to 10 points with a consolation touchdown in the dying minutes. – Reuters