03/05/2008 19:26

And although the Stormers failed to bag the highly sought-after bonus point they did their semi-final chances a world of good, while at the same time destroying the Brumbies' last chance of reaching the play-offs.

The Stormers scored all their points in the first half.

The Stormers took early liberties when they attempted to run their way out of trouble from deep options and very nearly came to grief when two of three attempted clearances were charged down. However, the Stormers defence scrambled well enough to avert disaster.

Both sides served notice that they would run the whenever the opportunity presented itself, with Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) and Gcobani Bobo (Stormers) taking the initiative.

However, another Bobo break proved most telling in the 12th minute when he cracked open the Brumbies defence before laying on a scoring pass for Jean de Villiers who raced in unopposed. Peter Grant added the conversion (7-0).

Defence was severely tested

There was little to suggest at this stage that this try would really ignite the Stormers and in the ensuing minutes the Brumbies defence was severely tested as Sireli Naqelevuki and De Villiers brought off thrilling runs which, although hugely promising, came to nought.

For the time being the Stormers had to rely on a further advance from a Grant penalty in the 20th minute (10-0).

However, moments later De Villiers broke out from his own 22m area when he snatched up a loose ball and darted down the grandstand touchline before he was checked 10m from the Brumbies tryline.

He managed to slip a pass to the supporting Bobo but the centre, with the tryline at his mercy, was obstructed moments before gathered the pass and referee Steve Walsh had ho hesitation in awarding a penalty try, which Grant converted (17-0).

Three minutes later Grant was on target with another penalty but that proved to be the last score for the rampant Stormers in this half (20-0).

For the remaining 12 minutes the Brumbies launched an all-out assault, as they managed to pin the Stormers down in their own half with sorties down the middle and wide.

However, the Stormers were equal to the task and it must have been very frustrating for the Australian visitors that they had to return to the dressing room empty-handed.

Champagne display

The players trooped off at half-time to huge acclaim from the 44 539-strong crowd who were treated to a champagne display both on attack and defence by Stormers.

Early second-half play was confined mainly between the two 10m lines, as the teams battled to consolidate their game plans but defences were well structured although the Brumbies looked the more impressive during this passage of play.

In the 55th minute the Brumbies finally came good when Tyrone Smith caught the Stormers defence napping and managed a penetrative run from the Stormers 10m up to 10 metres from the tryline where he found support from right wing Adam Ashley-Cooper who dotted down close to the corner flag in the 55th minute. Mortlock failed to convert (20-5).

In what has become a familiar pattern of Stormers second-half play they faded away badly and allowed the opposition to gain the upper hand. As a result they spent sustained spells in their own half, keeping the Brumbies in check.

They had to rely on the occasional lengthy upfield kick to move out of their half, and in the play leading up to the end they seldom looked like breaching the Brumbies defence again, although there was a brief spell some seven ahead of the final whistle when they came to light with some hectic efforts, all which were unsuccessful.

The only advance on the score sheet at the death was an unconverted try by Brumbies substitute Adam Wallace-Harrison.

Scorers:

Stormers: Tries: Jean de Villiers, penalty-try. Conversions: Peter Grant (2). Penalties: Grant (2).

Brumbies: Tries: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Adam Wallace-Harrison.