Stormers Take Top Spot
The Stormers have raced to the top of the Super 15 table with a 6-16 away win against the Sharks at Kings Park.
Schalk Burger grabbed the only try of the match early in the first half, with Peter Grant scoring the other 11 points with his boot.
It was the story of missed opportunities for the Sharks as Jacques- Louis Potgeiter missed three kicks,that might have put the spring back in the step back of the host's attack.
But his inaccuracies along were too costly to the Sharks, who have now lost three games straight.
The Stormers sit at the top of the Super 15 with 29 points from their opening six matches- three points above nearest chasers the Crusaders.
First Half
The visitors took an early lead on three minutes, through a Grant penalty after Tendai Mtawarira went straight to ground at the scrum. Sharks 0 Stormers 3
The Stormers replied on 12 minutes with a penalty of their own for the tackler not rolling away. Potgeiter slotted from in front of the posts.
Then the first try of the game came through Burger on 14 minutes. He applied the finishing touches after centre Jaque Fourie made a break, and the Springbok back-row was there to pick and drive from five yards out. Grant converted to give the Stormers a seven-point lead. Sharks 3 Stormers 10
On 19 minutes, Charl McLeod caught the Stormer's defence napping and made a 50 metre break before falling over and failing to offload. Unlucky but good play by the Scrum Half.
The war of attrition continued in the forwards with both front-rows very physical at the scrum area. Decorated Springbok John Smit had the job of watching from the bench.
The home side missed the opportunity to narrow the deficit with Brok Harris penalised for going straight to ground- Mtawarira leveling the contest at the scrum.
The Stormers then extended their lead through another penalty. Odwa Ndungane the culprit playing the ball on the floor and not rolling away. Grant was more than happy to add another three points to his tally and the travellers were looking sharp. Sharks 3 Stromers 13
The Sharks again failed to convert penalties to points as Potgeiter missed a routine kick from 34 metres out.
But the Fly-Half made amends just before half-time with an offside entry at a ruck giving him the chance to prove his worth to his team. He made no mistakes this time from 51 metres out to give his side three more points. Sharks 6 Stormers 13
Half time
The physicality in the first-half had been intense throughout with Burger putting in a brutal hit on Potgeiter and this being reciprocated when Bryan Habana was dumped and driven hard into the ground.
But the second half was unusually quiet for a Super 15 game and especially with the talent that was on the pitch.
On 54 minutes Mtawarira gave Grant another chance from the boot. He was penalised at the breakdown as the Stormers extended their lead. Sharks Stormers 13
Grant's penalty would prove to be the only points in the second half as conditions deteriorated.
The Sharks worked the ball well up the field and were rewarded with a penalty on the halfway line but on the far right touchline.
With the Sharks coming into the game on the back of two losses it was up to Potgeiter to at least salvage a losing bonus point, but he missed again- although it was always going to be difficult- as the game came to a close.
The Stormers clock up another win for their record and the Sharks lose their third straight game.
The final score- Sharks 3 Stormers 16
