Western Stormers slam Central Cheetahs in Super 15s South Africa derby

WESTERN Stormers hammered Central Cheetahs 33-0 in a rain-soaked South African derby of the Super 15s in Cape Town.

Stormers's fly-half Peter Grant of South Africa, kicks the ball during the Super Rugby 15 match between Western Force and Western Stormers at the Newlands Stadium, on May 17, 2014, in Cape Town. Western Stormers belied their bottom place in the Super 15 standings with a convincing 24-8 victory over high-flying Western Force. AFP PHOTO/ RODGER BOSCH

WESTERN Stormers won successive Super 15 matches for the first time this season by outplaying Central Cheetahs 33-0 on Saturday in awful Cape Town conditions.

The home side were ahead within five minutes when hooker Deon Fourie barged over at Newlands stadium, led 15-0 at half-time, and were rarely under pressure.

A bonus-point victory for scoring four tries lifted the Cape Town franchise two places to 11th while the Cheetahs dropped one place to 13th on the combined standings.

Wind, rain, cold and a slippery pitch ensured the South African derby was never going to be a classic and while Stormers executed the basics well, Cheetahs were woeful.

Cheetahs skipper and hooker Adriaan Strauss was yellow-carded midway through the first half for a dangerous tackle on right-wing Kobus van Wyk and his 10-minute absence proved expensive.

Stormers used their numerical advantage to score 10 unanswered points through a Van Wyk try and a conversion and penalty from fly-half Kurt Coleman.

Those scores coupled with the Fourie try made up the first-half total for Stormers, who suffered a late, pre-match blow when centre and Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers withdrew injured.

A reason why traditional play-offs contenders Stormers have battled this season is a long casualty list and stand-in captain and flank Schalk Burger quit at half-time nursing a sore neck.

Fellow Springbok Siya Kolisi took his place and scored the third try with 10 minutes left after penalties by Coleman and his replacement, Peter Grant, had put the game beyond Cheetahs’ reach.

Grant converted the third try and after Stormers lock Michael Rhodes was sin-binned for hair-pulling, New Zealand-born left-wing Sailosi Tagicakibau dotted down to complete the rout.

Stormers are away to leaders Coastal Sharks in Durban next weekend while Cheetahs have a bye in the final round before a June break for Test matches

Originally published as Western Stormers slam Central Cheetahs in Super 15s South Africa derby