Peter Grant kicked 27 points and Jaque Fourie scored two tries, one a spectacular effort, to help the Stormers stay second in the Super 14 with a 42-14 win over the Canterbury Crusaders on Friday.
The victory in front of a 48 184 crowd gave the South African team 38 points, one behind the champion Bulls with two rounds remaining. It was also their first win over the New Zealanders since 2006.
The Crusaders remained in third place on 34 points and must beat the Bulls in Pretoria next week to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Grant kicked a penalty in the first minute after the visitors had obstructed from the kick-off.
The flyhalf then doubled the lead five minutes later after Crusaders captain Richie McCaw was penalised at a ruck.
The Crusaders hit back from the kick-off as flyhalf Dan Carter, the competition’s highest points-scorer, charged down a Grant clearance and ran in unopposed from 20 metres.
Grant replied with his third penalty before another opened up a five-point gap.
The Crusaders were dealt a blow on the stroke of halftime as number eight Kieran Read was yellow-carded for repeated infringements.
The Stormers capitalised after the restart when centre Fourie scored a scintillating try after beating six men in a 60-metre run.
Grant added the extra points before kicking more penalties in the 55th, 58th and 67th minutes.
Giant Fijian winger Sireli Naqelevuki rubbed salt into the wounds with a breakaway try seven minutes from time although the Crusaders claimed a late consolation touchdown through fullback Colin Slade.
Fourie then ran in his second try on the hooter. – Reuters