Stormers go back to the top

The Stormers held on for a hard-earned 19-13 win over a desperate Waratahs team in their Super Rugby encounter at Newlands on Saturday.

Despite another ordinary second half, with a 13-point half-time lead becoming a six-point win, the Stormers still topped both the South African conference and global standings.

Their return to the top of the table follow two weeks in which their compatriots, the Bulls, had been at the summit – first on the SA conference table and then the global standings.

The Waratahs took an early lead, a Brendan McKibbin penalty in eighth minute.

However, the Stormers struck the first decisive blow – Joe Pietersen going over in the left corner after some strong running and great handling by the Stormers backs exposing the Tahs' defence. The scoring pass was a skilful catch-and-throw by captain Jean de Villiers.

While Grant missed with the conversion attempt, Pietersen landed a penalty just after the quarter mark as the Stormers took a 8-3 lead.

Just after the half-hour mark the home team went further ahead – hooker Tiaan Liebenberg going over in the corner after the Waratahs had twice managed  to fracture a Stormers maul close to their line. But the men from Cape Town was not to be denied, as their bustling No.2 found just enough space to get over. Grant, from the touchline, was just short.

And Grant gave his team a 13-point (16-3) lead right on the half-time break, following a transgression at the breakdown just metres from the Waratahs' line.

The Waratahs came storming back straight after the restart, when Kane Douglas handed off Andries Bekker and then out-sprinted him to set up a good field position – from where quick recycling and accurate hands pout Rob Horne over for the visitors' opening try.

Brendan McKibbin added the extras as the Waratahs closed the gap to 10-16.

McKibbin added a penalty a few minutes later, as the gap closed to 13-16, but Grant restored the six-point gap (19-13) almost immediately – both for offences at the breakdown.

The Waratahs now played the territorial game much more effective than the Stormers and threatened on a number of occasions, but struggled to break the Stormers' resolute defence.

The scorers:

For the Stormers:

Tries: Pietersen, Liebenberg

Pens: Pietersen, Grant 2

For the Waratahs:

Try: Horne

Con: McKibbin

Pens: McKibbin 2

Teams:

Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Jebb Sinclair, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Don Armand, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.

Waratahs: 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Atieli Pakalani, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11 Tom Kingston, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Dave Dennis, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 John Mann-Rea, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Wycliff Palu, 20 Dave Dennis, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Daniel Halangahu.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)