Raging Stormers crush Chiefs
Stormers moved to the top of the Super 14 table with a 49-15 demolition of Chiefs at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Friday.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 16/04/10 5:46pm
The Stormers have moved to the top of the Super 14 table with a 49-15 demolition of Chiefs at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
The disappointing home side produced a shambolic display which allowed Stormers to continuously power over the try line, touching down six times in total.
Peter Grant knocked over the first points with a penalty for the visitors after 11 minutes, but Stephen Donald drew his side level soon after.
Sloppy
The Stormers' three-point lead was restored by Grant when Sione Lauaki was caught offside, and it was only a matter of time before that gap was widened as Chiefs were reduced to aimless kicking and sloppy counter-attack.
Impressive interplay between backs and forwards led to Stormers' first try, with Grant feeding Bryan Habana with a long pass which allowed him to go over untouched before the fly-half added the extras.
Duane Vermuelen crossed for the second thanks to a 40-metre burst from full-back Gio Aplon, while Grant converted to make it 20-3 to the visitors.
Chiefs managed to fight back in the final 10 minutes of the half as Lauaki broke free of a backpedalling scrum and fed openside flanker Tanerau Latimer, who touched down under the posts.
Donald converted the try to reduce the deficit to 20-10, but Stormers were undoubtably the dominant side going into the break.
The Cape Town men continued that control early in the second half, grabbing their third try just three minutes in when superb bursts by lock Andries Bekker and captain Schalk Burger allowed hooker Tiaan Liebenberg to crash over in the corner.
Grant failed to add the extras but compensated by kicking his side 30-10 ahead with his fourth penalty in the 52nd minute.
Bonus point
Winger Sireli Naqelevuki grabbed the bonus point with Stormers' fourth try, while Bekker posted the fifth to put the result beyond any doubt with 16 minutes left to play.
Chiefs full-back Tim Nanai-Williams managed a consolation try which Donald failed to convert before Deon Fourie added insult to injury when he brushed off two flimsy tackles to score again for the visitors.
Willem de Waal landed the final two points to seal the decisive victory for Stormers and close out an embarrassing night for the Chiefs.
