Stormers move into second after fifth win

Fullback Joe Pietersen scored 13 points to help the Stormers beat the Cheetahs 21-8 in an all-South African Super 14 match at Newlands this morning (NZ time)..

A fifth win in six matches lifted the Stormers to second in the table above the Crusaders and a point behind the Bulls who have a game in hand.

Another tenacious tackling display against last year's bottom-placed side reaffirmed the Stormers' reputation as the tournament's best defensive team, having conceded just 59 points this season.

The hosts, who lost regular flyhalf Peter Grant to injury in the warm-up, opened the scoring with two early Pietersen penalties, before the fullback raced over in the left corner and then converted on 25 minutes.

Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman responded with a try, cleverly following up his own chip before receiving the scoring pass from centre partner Robert Ebersohn to trail 13-5 at halftime.

Flyhalf Naas Olivier cut the visitors' deficit to five after the restart with a long-range drop goal but the Stormers replied immediately through centre Jaque Fourie, who crashed over in the right corner after a powerful charge by captain Schalk Burger.

After Pietersen had withdrawn through injury, Willem de Waal took over kicking duties and his penalty with 18 minutes remaining clinched the victory.

- Reuters