The Stormers triumphed in their fourth consecutive win over the Cheetahs at Newlands with a final score of 21 – 15.

However, if last weeks Super Rugby clash at Newlands was a comical theatre production of errors, then the first 20 minutes of the DHL Stormers against the Toyota Cheetahs was the sequel.

Knock-on’s, offside play, collapsed scrums and obstructive running all showcased contradictory entertainment that the supporters from both sides expected. WP Nel dominated the strength of CJ van der Linde in the first three scrums of the game which saw referee Pro Legoete’s arm raised for a series of free kicks and then a penalty, but Naas Olivier failed to convert any advantage with his first attempt with the boot in the 12^th minute.

Consecutive penalties in the 14^th and 16^th minutes saw Peter Grant kick for touch which showcased the home sides intentions to score tries, but the Cheetahs were prepared for anything that came their way after turning over possession on both occasions.

The 21^st minute opened the scoreboard as Pieter Louw found his hands in the ruck. Naas Olivier successfully converted the penalty which was right in front of the uprights. The Stormers attacked with intent after the kickoff, and a dangerous tackle in the 25^th minute gave Grant the opportunity to convert his first kick at poles which he did successfully.

Three minutes later, the Cheetahs went offside and Grant successfully slotted his second penalty through the uprights to give the Stormers a three point lead, however in the 34^th minute the Stormers found themselves offside and Olivier equalised with his second penalty.

Conrad Jantjies had a shocker after missing a high kick and knocking on in a tackle, however hooker Deon Fourie found form attacking with various opportunities down the middle of the field, wetting the appetite of the Newlands faithful for the second half after Grant missed a penalty in the last move of the half to keep the halftime score at 6-6.

The Cheetahs gave the Stormers a scare after launching a flurry of attacks in the first three minutes of the second half. Stormers coach Alistair Coetzee rolled the substitutions bringing on Dewald Duvenage to the expense of Ricky January’s slow attack, immediately playing a role in a successful Grant penalty on the left wing in the 44^th minute. Three minutes later, Grant repeated the success after the Cheetahs once again found themselves offside, giving the homeside a 12 – 6 lead.

Olivier drew relief with a penalty after the Stormers found themselves offside in the 51^st minute, but the pendulum swung again after the Cheetahs forwards got in front of a high launched up-and-under from Olivier and Grant made no mistake with the boot taking the score up to 15 – 9. The Stormers offered Olivier a penalty a minute later which he successfully converted as the homeside barely held onto a 15-12 lead.

Countless scoring opportunities went adrift for the Stormers, after several unforced errors were made close to the Cheetahs try line. With 10-minutes left on the clock, the Stormers scrum this time dominated over the Cheetahs, after a collapse giving Grant another three points on the board. A minute later, the Cheetahs forwards went over the ball in a ruck and Grant once again did the job with the boot giving the home side a nine point lead.

The last minute of the dual saw repetitive mistakes from the Stormers resulting in the last move of the game being a penalty kick from Riaan Viljoen. The Cheetahs thus finished with a bonus point by losing within seven points, and the Stormers took four points for their win to the log to take their tally to 12.

After Match Press Conferences:

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotsky was extremely disappointed with his side losing in the penultimate minutes to the Stormers in their Super Rugby clash at a hot and humid Newlands on Saturday night.

At the post match press conference, Drotsky admitted that his team were outplayed and although he feels some calls may have gone against his side and the run of play in critical times, the Cheetahs should have made more of their opportunities and played a more disciplined game.

“I am extremely disappointed as I feel we could have won the game”, said Drotsky, “we told ourselves before the game started that discipline will play a big role and we should not give away penalties at critical times which we did and it cost us the game at the end.”

Drotsky also mentioned that his side never played with the same intensity as they had against the Bulls the previous week, and they will have to pick up their game going forward in the competition.

Whilst many would have expected the Stormers coach Alistair Coetzee to be overwhelmed with his sides win, a very different message was given.

“Our performance was not very good this week and although the players worked hard to make the best of opportunities, it just was not good enough” said Coetzee.

“It was hot and slippery out there and we know it is not an excuse, but we also know we need to keep on winning whilst fixing errors” said the Stormers coach.

The Stormers failed to score a try in their match and will need to break their oppositions defense in their next encounter against the Highlanders in Cape Town on Friday

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotsky was extremely disappointed with his side losing in the penultimate minutes to the Stormers in their Super Rugby clash at a hot and humid Newlands on Saturday night.

At the post match press conference, Drotsky admitted that his team were outplayed and although he feels some calls may have gone against his side and the run of play in critical times, the Cheetahs should have made more of their opportunities and played a more disciplined game.

“I am extremely disappointed as I feel we could have won the game”, said Drotsky, “we told ourselves before the game started that discipline will play a big role and we should not give away penalties at critical times which we did and it cost us the game at the end.”

Drotsky also mentioned that his side never played with the same intensity as they had against the Bulls the previous week, and they will have to pick up their game going forward in the competition.

Whilst many would have expected the Stormers coach Alistair Coetzee to be overwhelmed with his sides win, a very different message was given.

“Our performance was not very good this week and although the players worked hard to make the best of opportunities, it just was not good enough” said Coetzee.

“It was hot and slippery out there and we know it is not an excuse, but we also know we need to keep on winning whilst fixing errors” said the Stormers coach.

The Stormers failed to score a try in their match and will need to break their oppositions defense in their next encounter against the Highlanders in Cape Town on Friday.