Stormers come up short
Late tries from Sireli Naqelevuki and Robbie Diack gave the Stormers a 22-13 victory but it wasn't enough for a semi-final spot.
Last Updated: 17/05/08 7:37pm
Late tries from Sireli Naqelevuki and Robbie Diack gave the Stormers a 22-13 victory over the Lions but it wasn't enough for a semi-final spot.
The South African side failed to gain the bonus point that would have secured their place in the post-season action, with the Sharks edging them out thanks to their five-point success over the Chiefs on Saturday.
The Cape Town outfit knew what was required but failed to deliver the goods in all departments against a Lions side rooted to the bottom of the Super 14 table.
The Stormers lacked ideas throughout and came up against a stubborn defence during a physical encounter that did little to boost the visitors' chances of taking the play-offs by storm.
Peter Grant opened the scoring with an 18th minute penalty but, after numerous botched efforts, Stormers finally crossed for their first try nine minutes before the break when skipper Jean de Villiers took advantage of the extra man with Lions centre Walter Venter in the sin-bin.
Only 8-0 in front at the interval the Stormers needed dramatic improvement in the second period but it was not forthcoming - indeed it was the Lions who narrowed the deficit with Earl Rose finishing off a great move that started in the hosts' own territory.
Rose later levelled the scores with a long-range penalty, forcing Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus to make several changes which opened up the game with dramatic effect.
Fijian winger Naqelevuki crashed over with Grant adding the extras and replacement loose forward Diack soon followed to complete a sweeping move as the visitors finally asserted their authority.
Stormers threw everything they had left at the flagging Lions as they went in search of the crucial fourth score, but it was not to be and with men committed Lions sneaked in a score of their own late on through replacement Jannie Boshoff.