Stormers set Super benchmark

WELLINGTON – Western Stormers are threatening to run away with the Super 15 championship after they demolished the Otago Highlanders 21-6 at the weekend in a top-of-the-table clash.

There was a clear gulf in class between the top two sides and the Stormers’ big win sends out a real warning to the teams hoping to bridge the gap before the playoffs.If there is a chink in the Cape Town-based Stormers’ armoury, it is an inability to score tries: they sit on 28 points from six wins and a bye, but are the only side not to have picked up any bonus points.The Waikato Chiefs, who beat the Western Force, have lost only one game and are hanging onto the coat-tails of the Stormers on 26 points, two more than the Northern Bulls, who held off the fast-finishing Canterbury Crusaders.The Highlanders tumbled from second to fifth, two points behind the Bulls. The Wellington Hurricanes are on 21 points following their run-away six-try win over the Coastal Sharks.The ACT Brumbies lost to defending champions the Queensland Reds and despite having only three wins to their credit they stay at the top of the Australian conference, but with only 19 points.The Stormers not only dented the Highlanders’ aspirations but they did so backing up from a hard-fought win over the Bulls and showing little evidence of fatigue after the long trip from South Africa to start their Australasian tour.The 21-6 victory was built on a well-rehearsed strategy of a watertight defence, which restricted the Highlanders’ scoring to just two penalties and underscored why the Stormers have leaked fewer tries than any other side.’We pride ourselves on our defence. We work terribly hard at it and we show our commitment to the team through our defence,’ said captain Jean de Villiers.The Chiefs scored a try in each half as they made the most of limited opportunities to beat the Force 20-12 and notch their first win in Australia since 2010.The Force, who ran in five tries a week earlier against the Reds, could not capitalise on the numerous turnovers (16) and penalties (13) by the misfiring Chiefs and had to rely on penalties by David Harvey for all their points.In Pretoria, the Bulls survived a late Crusaders onslaught to triumph 32-20 in a clash of former Super champions.The home team recovered from an early 10-point deficit to lead by 16 points with 10 minutes remaining before the Crusaders’ revival, with a telling difference being the more accurate boot of Morne Steyn over Dan Carter.Wellington Hurricanes made light of limited possession to outscore the Coastal Sharks six tries to two in a feisty 42-18 clash for their fourth win from seven games.The Hurricanes, with their emphasis on attack, are the highest points-scoring team in the competition, which has seen them rewarded with five bonus points so far.The Reds got their season back on track after three consecutive losses when they held off the ACT Brumbies 20-13 in Brisbane.They looked well in control as they led 17-0 after 50 minutes, but visibly tired as the Brumbies stormed back with 13 unanswered points.In Bloemfontein, a burst of scoring in the first half set up a 26-5 win for Central Cheetahs against Golden Lions at Free State Stadium.The improving Melbourne Rebels accounted for the Auckland Blues 34-23 with Wallaby star James O’Connor finishing with a 24-point haul in a dominant display. – Nampa-AFP