Stormers impress with 27-6 victory over Waratahs
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The Stormers capitalised heavily on limited scoring opportunities and held the Waratahs tryless to run out worthy 27-6 winners.
Midway through the second half the Stormers entertained the 37 000 strong home crowd with some enterprising play as their forwards dovetailed splendidly with the backs in several sorties into the Waratahs 22m area.
The Waratahs came out firing on all cylinders and wasted no time in taking play into the Stormers’ 22 metre area. During a hectic four minute spell they came within striking distance of the tryline three times but desperate defence by the Stormers denied them an early score.
A breakdown infringement penalty helped the Stormers to drive the Waratahs back and they used the let-off to impose themselves on the match. Skipper Schalk Burger led the charge with a few bullocking runs that drew frequent roars from the Newlands faithfull but the Stormers did not pose a real threat to the Waratahas as their efforts were thwarted by a spate of knock-ons in their approach work.
Waratahs flyhalf Berrick Barnes opened the scoring with a 17th minute penalty which seemed to provide the Aussie visitors with a lift as they launched several moves into the Stormers half of the field (3-0).
However, the Stormers defence nipped their most promising moves in the bud and at the same time thy hosts tried to mount counter-attacks from inside their own half — one of which paved he way for a 29th minute try when flanker Francois Louw was driven over by his team mates. Fullback Joe Pieterson goaled the conversion for a 7-3 lead.
A few minutes before the try, the Stormers lost Burger who left the field injured with a hamstring strain and was replaced by Pieter Louw.
The Stormers grew in confidence as the half wound to its close and Pietersen crowned their strong finish with two penalties in quick succession to open up a 13-7 lead at the break.
The second half started off on a hectic note as 10 points were scored in the first four minutes. First Barnes banged over a penalty to reduce the deficit for the Waratahs and in the next minute winger Bryan Habana cantered in for his first try in a Stormers jersey after he coolly collected his charge-down from a clearance by Waraths centre Kurtley Beale. Pietersen snapped over the conversion (20-6).
The crowd was on its feet 10 minutes later as the Stormers’ pressure started taking its toll on the Waratahs defence. From a scrum 15 metres out scrumhalf Ricky Januarie broke powerfully and once he had sucked in the opposition’s midfield he reeled out a scoring pass to Habana. Pietersen added the conversion once again (27-6).
This setback took the sting out of the Waratahs’ challenge and although they sprung a few attempts to undo the Stormers’ grip on the match they were on the backfoot for most of the time in the final 15 minutes of the match.
They did, however, wage one concerted scoring effort at the death but once again the never-say-die Stormers defence saw their off the efforts.
Scorers: Stormers: Tries: Francois Louw, Bryan Habana (2). Conversions: Joe Pietersen (3). Penalties: Pietersen (2).
Waratahs: Penalties: Berrick Barnes (2).
Teams Stormers: Joe Pietersen; Gio Aplon, Jaques Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana; Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie; Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger (captain); Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp; Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg and JC Kritzinger. Replacements: Deon Fourie, Eusebio Guinazu, Anton van Zyl, Pieter Louw, Dewaldt Duvenage, Lionel Cronje and Sireli Naqelevuki.
Waratahs: Soseni Anesi; Lachie Turner, Tom Carter, Kurtley Beale, Drew Mitchell; Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess; Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (captain), Ben Mowen; Kane Doublas, Will Caldwell; Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson.
Replacements: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Hendrik Roodt, Dave Dennis, Josh Holmes, Daniel Halanghu and Rory Sidey.
[SAPA]
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