The Stormers hit their straps against the Highlanders, running in four tries to beat their Kiwi visitors 34-22 at Newlands on Saturday.
The convincing display means that Robbie Fleck’s manne can still make the Super Rugby playoffs should they win their three remaining round-robin games, despite still being bottom of the South African Conference.
Thanks to an impressive display on attack, the Stormers will have their tails up after this morale-boosting win.
The hosts got the Newlands faithful on their feet when Seabelo Senatla gathered a chipkick to dot down inside 20 minutes, unfortunately he was ruled offside.
After going 3-0 down to a Marty Banks penalty, Senatla set up scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies with some sharp play around the scrum to take a 7-3 lead.
The Stormers then showed their killer instinct to take a 17-3 lead into the break, punishing the Highlanders’ lack of discipline.
SCORED: Cobus Wiese. Photo: Backpagepix.
Josh Stander converted a penalty before skipper Siya Kolisi broke through the midfield for another converted try after fullback Matt Faddes was sent to the sin bin.
The Kiwis hit back after the break through centre Sio Tomkinson’s try, but Dillyn Leyds produced some magic to break the line and feed Cobus Wiese out wide for the Stormers’ third try (24-10).
A bonus-point win looked on for the hosts, but the nerves kicked in after replacement flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis’s penalty and they allowed the Highlanders in for a five-pointer through Waisake Naholo (27-15).
TRY: Jean-Luc du Plessis. Photo: Backpagepix.
The Stormers had more in the tank as centre Damian de Allende broke through the middle, before Du Plessis crashed over for their fourth try after Sikhumbuzo Notshe was stopped just short of the tryline (34-15).
The hosts will know that they need to close out games better after prop Siate Tokolahi scored after the hooter.