Hope fades for Stormers
The Stormers all but ended their hopes of a Super 14 play-off place after crumbling to a 12-6 defeat to the Waratahs on Saturday.
Last Updated: 04/04/09 1:08pm
The Stormers all but ended their hopes of reaching the Super 14 play-offs after crumbling to a 12-6 defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
In contrast the Waratahs consolidated their top four position, man-of-the-match Lachie Turner scoring twice to secure a vital victory for the hosts.
The Waratahs were prepared to give the ball some width from the first phase of the match and their enterprise looked to have paid off in the third minute when Turner slid over in the corner.
His celebrations were cut short however when Lote Tuqiri's final pass was ruled forward by referee Bryce Lawrence.
But there was no stopping him three minutes later when he touched down with a brilliant solo effort from 50-metres out.
The winger, having received the ball on halfway, jinked and weaved through a disjointed defensive line before unleashing a spectacular chip-and-chase on the run to score under the posts.
Halangahu added the extras to take a 7-0 lead after seven minutes.
Promise
The Stormers began to show some promise in attack after being starved of possession in the early stages.
And itr was only a desperate ankle tap by Phil Waugh that denied Jean de Villiers a certain try on 16 minutes.
The Stormers stayed on the offensive for several minutes but the Waratahs defence held firm and a Peter Grant penalty goal in the 25th minute was all the visitors had to show for their efforts.
While the Stormers were the more dominant side before the break, the Waratahs were unlucky not to add to their 7-3 lead with Halangahu and Turner both narrowly missing long-range penalty attempts.
The Stormers continued to ask questions at the start of the second half, but it was the hosts who enjoyed the first genuine chance after the break.
Tuqiri set off for the line on 48 minutes and appeared certain to score but Turner was unable to grasp a difficult low ball as the line beckoned.
Stubborn
Four minutes later Halangahu had the chance to post the first points of the half but could not find his range from 28 metres out.
Grant was more accurate in the 65th minute though, as the Stormers closed to within a solitary point.
Halangahu's third miss of the match with eleven minutes remaining appeared to lift the Stormers, but they could not find a way through the stubborn Waratahs defence.
Beale ended the stalemate in the 76th minute when he set up Turner for his second score but Halangahu again failed to convert.
Despite picking up a bonus point the result has almost certainly left the Stormers out of the running for a top-four finish.
