Ken Borland

The Stormers hung on in the second half despite their creaking set-pieces to beat the New South Wales Waratahs 19-13 (half-time 16-3) at Newlands on Saturday and install themselves at the top of the SuperRugby standings.

The Stormers had scored two tries in the first half and, with dominance in possession and territory, seemed to have set up a comfortable victory over the Australians.

But the Stormers lost their structures after the break as the boot of Waratahs flyhalf Berrick Barnes kept them pinned in their own territory. But the much-vaunted defence of the South Africans held firm and they only conceded one try.

The kicking game of the Waratahs brought the first points of the match in the ninth minute as centre Adam Ashley-Cooper’s deft up-and-under forced a five-metre scrum, which went straight to ground, leading to a penalty by scrumhalf Brendan McKibben.

But the Stormers scored the first try of the match nine minutes later, off the platform of an attacking lineout as wing Gio Aplon burst through the defences after a wonderful inside pass from scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenhage, and fullback Joe Pietersen, an obvious attacking threat throughout, rounded off the move in the left corner.

Duvenhage then deceived the Waratahs defence on the blindside, leading to a penalty which Pietersen kicked (8-3), and the Stormers crossed the tryline again seven minutes before half-time.

They set up a rolling maul off a lineout and, with the Waratahs distracted by another ball thrown on to the ground, hooker Tiaan Liebenberg crashed over for the second try.

Flyhalf Peter Grant then kicked an injury-time penalty to give the Stormers a commanding 16-3 lead, before they suffered another concerning second-half fade-out.

Lock Andries Bekker was chiefly to blame for a defensive failure that allowed replacement lock Kane Douglas to burst through and, with eighthman Dave Dennis carrying the ball well, outside centre Rob Horne was able to stroll over the tryline.

McKibben converted to close the gap to 16-10 and the Stormers continued to endure a hugely frustrating second half. They were pinned in their half for long periods by Barnes and this led to indecision when it came to either returning the kicks or trying to run the ball out from deep inside their own territory.

This confusion led to a McKibben penalty in the 47th minute when wing Bryan Habana was caught in possession and played the ball on the ground.

Grant provided some relief for the Stormers with a 50th-minute penalty, but the home side had to work exceptionally hard to keep the Waratahs out and secure the win.

Scorers

Stormers – Tries: Joe Pietersen, Tiaan Liebenberg. Penalties: Pietersen, Peter Grant (2).

Waratahs – Try: Rob Horne. Conversion: Brendan McKibben. Penalties: McKibben (2).

The Stormers failed to pitch up for the second half but an enormous defensive effort meant they hung on for a 16-14 victory over the Free State Cheetahs in their all-South African SuperRugby match at Newlands on Saturday.

The first half was one-way traffic as the Stormers cruised into a 16-0 half-time lead.

Flyhalf Peter Grant kicked three penalties in the first 16 minutes as the Cheetahs’ repeated infringements caught the eye of referee Steve Walsh and, after concerted pressure inside the opposition 22, lock Eben Etzebeth then muscled his way through three defenders to score the Stormers only try, in the 24th minute.

The Cheetahs came out inspired in the second half and a series of top-class drives by their forwards took them deep into the Stormers’ 22, where a slick pass by wing Willie le Roux allowed fullback Hennie Daniller to score in the corner.

Replacement flyhalf Riaan Smit kicked a fine conversion from the touchline to close the gap to 7-16 after 48 minutes.

Stormers flank Rynardt Elstadt then received a yellow card for a knee to the back of the head of Cheetahs wing Cameron Jacobs and a massive brawl then broke out between both teams, with a white card being issued for further investigation.

The Stormers defence held true, however, as the Cheetahs bombarded their line through 26 phases without reward.

Ironically, the visitors did score a second try in the 66th minute, but it came from deep within their own territory.

Right wing Gio Aplon sparked one of the Stormers’ few second-half attacks but, when scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenhage tried to pass to him again from a ruck, Le Roux pounced for the intercept and sprinted clear for a try from 90 metres out.

The accurate boot of Smit once again succeeded with the touchline conversion (16-14), but the Stormers prevented any further damage on the scoreboard and held on for a win that keeps them just one point behind the Bulls at the top of the South African Conference.

Scorers

Stormers – Try: Eben Etzebeth. Conversion: Peter Grant. Penalties: Grant (3).

Cheetahs – Tries: Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux. Conversions: Riaan Smit (2).