Super Rugby: Chris Noakes makes the Stormers pay in Auckland
The Stormers were left to rue missed opportunities as they lost 18-17 to the Blues in Auckland.
Last Updated: 03/05/13 11:45am
The visitors had dominated for long periods - particularly during the first half - however they failed to convert possession and territory in to points.
And the Blues made them pay with six penalties from Chris Noakes seeing them to the win - with the fly-half kicking the hosts into an early 6-0 lead before keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
The Stormers did outscore the Blues two tries to nil - with Jean de Villiers crossing for both in the second half - but it wasn't enough as their missed chances were to prove costly.
Missed
Andries Bekker thought he had scored in the first half but he was held up short, while the Stormers wasted two kickable penalties. First they went for the corner and then Joe Pietersen missed a regulation effort.
Pietersen did add one penalty in the opening 40 minutes to pass 100 points for the season and then converted both tries from de Villiers.
The Stormers captain had first crashed over from close range and then held off the attempted tackle of Francis Saili to power over.
And although the second try, with five minutes left, set up a dramatic finale the Blues were able to hold on.
A 23-phase spell of pressure deep into injury time provided Elton Jantjies with the platform to be the hero but he shanked his drop-goal effort.