Newlands deadlock costs Stormers
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Stormers' hopes of finishing Super Rugby league runners-up and securing a home semifinal were dented on Saturday when they drew 19-19 with Lions in a Cape Town thriller.
Marnitz Boshoff converted a try by Malcolm Marx three minutes from time to tie the match. But the stalemate eliminated the Lions from the title race, leaving conference winners the Stormers as the only South African contenders for the championship.
Taking only two points from a match watched by a 34,000 crowd leaves the Stormers two points behind the Waratahs in the race for second spot with one round left.
Finishing second on the combined standings secures a one-week break after the league season followed by a home semifinal.
There is no break for the side coming third, though, as they host a play-off and, if successful, play away in the semifinals.
Waratahs appear to have the easier final league fixture, at home to struggling fellow Australians Reds, while Stormers travel to the Sharks for a South African derby.
Stormers led the Lions three times only for the Johannesburg team to claw back, and the visitors exerted tremendous post-siren pressure before committing a knock-on a few metres short of the try-line.
The home side played the last six minutes a man short after prop Steven Kitshoff was sin-binned.
"It was not the result we wanted," admitted Stormers centre Juan de Jongh, who took over as skipper when No. 8 Duane Vermeulen withdrew injured just before the kick-off..
Lions skipper and No.8 Warren Whiteley said: "We have missed out on the play-offs, but I am so proud of my team for what they achieved this season."
Stormers started as favourites having won 11 of 12 previous Super Rugby clashes between the teams and were first to score.
Kitshoff was held up just short of the line and scrumhalf Nic Groom grabbed the ball to score a try flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis converted.
Lions scrumhalf Francois de Klerk darted over in the corner and flyhalf Elton Jantjies converted to restore equality.
A skip pass enabled Stormers wing Dillyn Leyds to score far out but Kurt Coleman, who replaced the injured Catrakilis, failed to convert.
The teams were level again when Lions prop Schalk van der Merwe barged over and the failure of Jantjies to convert meant the first half ended with each team having scored 12 points.
Fullback Cheslin Kolbe created the Stormers' third try by gathering his chip and sending No.8 Nizaam Carr away for a score Coleman converted for a 19-12 advantage.
The Lions equalised again three minutes from time when hooker Marx scored a pushover try which flyhalf Boshoff converted.
The visitors finished stronger, but could not snatch the victory that would have taken them to the top of the South African conference. They had to settle for seventh place.
Man of the Match: In an immense game the award could have gone to a player from either side. Cheslin Colby was electric at the back for the Stormers while Dillyn Leyds was a threat on the wing. For the Lions Jaco Kriel was a wrecking ball on attack giving defenders headaches all day and Franco Mostert was tireless on the park. Armand van der Merwe was explosive for the Lions, however the best player on the park was Eben Etzebeth with his defensive work, clean-out play and charging runs.
The scorers:
For the Stormers:
Tries: Groom, Leyds, Carr
Cons: Catrakilis, Coleman
For the Lions:
Tries: De Klerk, Van der Merwe, Marx
Cons: Jantjies, Boshoff
Yellow card: Steven Kitshoff (Stormers, 74 – repeated infringements in the maul)
Teams:
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Albertus Smith, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Howard Mnisi.
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Michael Rhodes, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Jaco Taute.
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
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