17/05/2008 16:55

Cape Town - The Stormers scored two late tries to score a thrilling 22-13 Super 14 win over the Lions on Saturday.

Wing Sireli Naqelevuki and replacement flank Robbie Diack scored converted tries in the final five minutes of the local derby to break the 8-8 deadlock and ensure the victory for the visitors.

The Stormers moved into fourth position on the points table, but their countrymen, the Sharks, could move past them later on Saturday when they face the Chiefs in Durban.

The Crusaders, Waratahs and Hurricanes have already qualified for next week's semi-finals.

There were few clear-cut chances for either side to cross the tryline in the first 40 minutes, but it was the visitors who certainly enjoyed the better opportunities.

If it wasn't hooker Schalk Brits punching holes into the Lions defence, it was the backs, like Conrad Jantjes, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant and Sireli Naqelevuki who regularly got over the advantage line.

Jantjes also regularly drove the opposition back in to their own with some huge punting out of hand.

The Lions were asked to absorb plenty of pressure in their own 22 metre area and on the quarter-hour mark, the visitors finally got on to the scoreboard through a Peter Grant penalty.

While the Stormers continued to launch good attacks, they regularly coughed up the ball in favourable positions and only when the Lions were reduced to 14 men after centre Walter Venter was yellow carded for an infringement were the visitors able to breach a solid Lions defence.

The five-pointer was scored by centre De Villiers, who beat the tackle of his Springbok midfield teammate Jaque Fourie, who dived over next to the uprights.

It came after a period of sustained pressure by the men from Cape Town and they deservedly led 8-0 at the break.

The visitors though weren't having it all their own way and the Lions hit back in some style, just seconds after the restart.

Fullback Earl Rose dived over in the left corner after receiving a pass from replacement scrumhalf Jano Vermaak.

Wing Rayno Benjamin had done all the hard work earlier in the move, when he dashed down the touchline to set his team up for the score.

Rose soon added three points with a well-struck penalty from the touchline to level the scores at 8-8.

The momentum was now with the Lions and with a quarter of the match to go, they did most of the attacking, but could simply find no way through the Stormers defence.

Then, with five minutes remaining, Naqelevuki and Diack crossed the tryline for converted scores to ensure the victory for the Stormers, giving themselves a chance of playing in next week's semi-finals.

For the Lions, replacement Jannie Boshoff scored a try on the final whistle, but it made no difference; the Lions finishing their campaign with just two wins, 12 points and last on the points table.

A bonus-point victory for the Sharks in Durban against the Chiefs will see them progress to the semi-finals.

Should the Sharks fail to score four tries, but win by 18 points or more, they will also reach the semis.

A draw or defeat for the Sharks will see the Stormers play the Crusaders in the semi-finals while the Waratahs will host the Hurricanes in the other playoff match.