The Vodacom Stormers ran out deserving 37-13 winners on the back of a spectacular first half display against the Hurricanes in a Vodacom Super 14 clash at the Newlands Rugby Stadium on Saturday evening, after leading 20-3 at the break.
The Hurricanes will now go north to Pretoria for an equally ominous match against the Bulls
Three first-half tries set up the Stormers for their second successive bonus point victory, which materialised when prop Brok Harris crashed over for the home side’s fourth try of the match. Jaque Fourie scored the Stormers’ fifth try near the end.
Some 32 seconds into the match, the Stormers were gifted a penalty 35 metres out when the Hurricanes went offside after they kicked ahead. Fullback Joe Pietersen punished the offence with an excellent kick (3-0).
The Hurricanes managed to secure ample possession after this early setback.
However, they repeatedly chose to run the ball from inside their half, rather than kick upfield to improve their field position.
The ploy backfired because the Stormers’ defence seldom allowed them to progress beyond the halfway line. On the few occasions they looked like making headway, infringements crept into their game and the Stormers replied with counter-attacks which were sprung with interesting variations as forwards and backs dovetailed splendidly.
It was only a matter of time before the enterprising Stormers would breach the opposition defence and a ninth minute attack produced a deserving try which was magnificently rounded off by right wing Sereli Naqelevuki who took a scoring pass from Pietersen. The conversion failed (8-0).
Whatever thoughts the Hurricanes may have had of forcing their way back into the picture were quickly dispelled by the hard tackling Stormers but the New Zealand visitors did manage to open their scoring account in the 19th minute via a Piri Weepu penalty (8-3).
The Stormers bounced back with a superb pressure spell which the Hurricanes found hard to contain and they enjoyed a let-off when Naqelevuki’s 28th minute touch-down was disallowed because of a forward pass in the build-up work.
But by this time the Stormers were rampant much to the delight of the 44 500 strong-crowd and, in a wave of attacks, they played wide several times. In the space of nine minutes ahead of the halftime break they breached the defence twice close to the corner flags through Pietersen and eighthman Duane Vermeulen. Pietersen managed one conversion to give the Stormers a commanding 20-3 lead at the break.
The Hurricanes made a brave effort to break down the stubborn Stormers’ defence after the break when they ran hard with ball in hand but after nine minutes of trying they came away empty handed. Thrice they managed to take play up to the Stormers’ tryline.
Once the Stormers saw off that threat they regrouped in spectacular fashion and the Hurricanes’ defence were again sorely tested.
The Stormers were denied a 53rd minute try after TV replays proved inconclusive but five minutes later flyhalf Peter Grant intervened in spectacular fashion to pave the way for prop Brok Harris to snatch the Stormers’ bonus point try. Pietersen added the conversion to open up a 24-point margin (27-3).
A few minutes later the Stormers’ brains trust decided to clear their substitutes bench and straight away the home side lost its look of invincibility and, in the 68th minute, they leaked a try with Hurricanes left wing David Smith scampering in at the corner for an unconverted try (27-8).
But there was more to come from the home side when their substitutes found their rhythm and after Pietersen goaled a late penalty for a 30-8 lead, Jacque Fourie helped himself to a try a minute ahead of the final whistle. Pietersen added the conversion (37-8).
The Hurricanes had one last run at the Stormers’ defence and the ploy paid off when substitute wing Alapati Leiua scored an unconverted try to round off the scoring in the match at 37-13.
Scorers: Tries: Sireli Naqelevuki, Joe Pietersen, Duane Vermeulen, Brok Harris and Jaque Fourie; Conversions: Pietersen (3); Penalties: Pietersen (2).
Vodacom Stormers:
Hurricanes: Tries: David Smith and Alapati Leiua; Penalty: Piri Weepu.
Wat opvalend was van gisteraand se wedstryd is die aantal strafskoppe wat uitegedeel is. Die Stormers het 5 afgestaan en die Canes 6!! Ek het nie veel games die nwaweek gekyk nie, maar die Stormer losvoorspelers het beslis baie vinng by die nuwe reeltoepassing aangepas. Stormer skrum was op tye onderdruk, maar is nooit oordonder nie.
Ek het die game gekyk gisteraand laat… dis nou, ek het die recording van die game gekyk…. ek was baaaie beindruk met die Stormers in geheel maar spesifiek met Sereli, Joe Peterson en Jaque Fourie se samespel…. en Duvenhage is die man wat die Stormers op scrummie MOET hou!
Speel onse Stormers en Bulle en Aussies se Reds rereig so goed, of speel die NZ spanne van jaar swak?
Die Crusaders and Chiefs lyk glad nie op top nie en die Hurricanes (na sleg verloor teen Cheetahs en Stormers) op die Highlanders se vlak.
Interresante laaste S14, ons sien dalk 2 SA en 2 Aus spanne in die Semi’s?
#3 Hokaai,
You make a good point about the NZ teams, Hokaai.
If Bulls gave them more of the same, the Hurricanes will really have a nightmare tour, and possibly slip out of semi-half contention.
So far it appears as if the Bulls, Brumbies, Stormers and only the Crusaders are strongly contesting. Do not throw away the Reds and Waratahs who both could make it, but where are the ‘strong’ NZ teams? They appear on par with the Cheetahs (go Vrystaat!). Chiefs and Blues have dissapointing.
We need the Bulls to snot klap the Canes, so that when they meet the Sharks they will be low on confidence and the Sharks can beat them, giving the Sharks 2 wins on the road.
Why was there only 35000 bulls fans at Loftus. You guys can at least market a winning team better than that since you claim to be the best.
Newlands on the other hand was a near full house.
8@ Wezwp – There was roughly 34 500 supporters at Loftus and 44 000 at Newlands.
Why the difference… it is 3-fold
1. Bulls were playing not such a high profile team.
2. Stormers are so happy that their team is finally performing again, all are storming to Newlands…. the feeling of winning is stil a novel feeling….
3. Many people in Pretoria stayed home to watch the Stormers game as well, seeing as one game directly followed the other.
Bulls next game is unfortunately on Friday night against the Canes, where it has been proven that Friday games gets fewer through the gates.
GBS
Wil met jou verskil oor punt 2.
Stormer supporters het nog altyd in groot getalle Nuweland toe gegaan, al het die span verloor. Baie mense het ook die Bulls game in die pubs in en om Nuweland gekyk voor hulle hul sitplekke gaan inneem het.
Negatiewe punt is egter dat seker 150 of so van daai 44 500 toeskouers haasbek Kapenaars was wat die donners Huricanes support het!!!
Stormers lyk baie beter as vorige jare, so dit kan ‘n goeie seisoen word.
7: Ons ‘claim’ nie ons is die beste nie, ons is die beste. Wen weer so paar CB’s en 2 S14/15 titels dan kan julle begin saam gesels. 😉
10: KP, dink nie dit is heeltemal waar nie, die afgelope klompie jare, ten minste tot en met die CB laasjaar, was Nuweland maar baie leeg by tye. Dit lyk nou heelwat beter, en hopelik is daar ‘n ‘full house’ met die laaste rondte !
O ja, sien al die bekers in die toerbus is nou hier bo in Pta, waar hul almal hoort. 😉
As a Bull’s supporter, there is only one game that has me nervous this year:
The final round game at Newlands.
But by then the Bulls would have secured their home-semifinal position, so we van realy enjoy it.
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