Stormers keep Cheetahs at bay for second victory

THIS match never reached dizzy heights but for sheer gladiator theatre it was right up there.

Once the dust settled the Stormers emerged with a second consecutive victory against South African opposition, while the Cheetahs will lament two defeats in a row after having richly contributed to both their season opening matches.

It was a stop-start affair with errors abundant, but the Stormers pulled through thanks largely to their ability to stick to their script, while the Cheetahs, if the sound from their coaches' box is anything to go by, often abandoned theirs.

The Cheetahs’ lack of maturity cost them. They conceded far too many penalties and their lineout proved dysfunctional. Their hookers left the distinct impression they were at Stormers’ training all week.

The Stormers were more assured on the ball, and, despite giving away several opportunities, they generally looked more likely to score.

They kept their heads and shape despite losing flyhalf Robert du Preez to what appears to be serious injury early in the second half.

It was a first half in particular in which neither side could build continuity. Errors proved too debilitating as the heat on the ball carrier and the attacking team in the ruck produced all manner of turnovers.

The Cheetahs were guilty of over-elaborating when a simple offload would have done the job. Their foibles were compounded by a disintegrating lineout, but here Eben Etzebeth and PieterSteph du Toit made a fair old nuisance of themselves.

They were all industry elsewhere too and in a game that at times was played at break-neck speed, Etzebeth in particular was living on the edge.

After both teams took lumps out of their opponents at scrum time last week, there was an air of expectation when the big men went head to head yesterday. There can be no doubt about the ferocity of the contest here yesterday and very few scrums were mere restarts.

A defensive aberration by the Cheetahs contributed to the game’s first try, which was rounded off by wing Leolin Zas.

Zas has gas and he showed it when he was put in the clear after a quickly recycled ball was briskly shifted to the left.

The Stormers will ask questions of their defence after the Cheetahs scored their first points from first-phase ball. The hosts won a penalty, kicked for touch and from the ensuing lineout around the Stormers 22m line it took the Cheetahs just three passes before the visitors were ripped open in midfield. Captain Francois Venter went over.

But after sustained attack Sikhumbuzo Notshe broke the dam for the Stormers.