Stormers set up Bulls date
Peter Grant kicked 20 points as the Stormers set up an all-South African Super 14 final with a 25-6 victory over the Waratahs.
Last Updated: 22/05/10 8:35pm
Peter Grant kicked 20 points as the Stormers set up an all-South African Super 14 final with a 25-6 victory over the Waratahs in Cape Town.
They will now face defending champions the Bulls as they make their first-ever Super 14 final appearance.
The Stormers were good value for their win, dominating for long spells although they had only one try to show for their superiority - Juan de Jongh's 25th minute score.
The Waratahs could not force their way back into the contest with their efforts to do so undermined by a number of errors.
The Australians did have the chance to forge an early lead, but Berrick Barnes dragged his penalty attempt wide of the sticks.
Grant made no such mistake with his first attempt at goal, slotting over after nine minutes to put the home side ahead when the visitors were caught offside.
A second successful kick followed not too long after as Phil Waugh made an illegal entry into the ruck and was duly penalised.
The Waratahs did get on the board as Barnes found his range after second-rower Andries Bekker was pinged for a dangerous tackle.
The game then settled down with errors at key moments preventing either side from adding further points.
That was until the 24th minute when the visitors pulled level, scrum-half Luke Burgess spotting Barnes in space and allowing his half-back partner to land a drop goal.
But the Waratahs joy from was short-lived as the Stormers scored the game's only try straight from the kick-off.
De Jongh, who collected a flat pass from Grant, cleverly side-stepped two defenders and his momentum carried him over for the line.
Grant slotted the conversion from right in front to make it 13-6 and another long-range penalty miss from Barnes meant the score remained the same at half-time.
Into the second period, Grant uncharacteristically missed a penalty chance - dragging his 40-metre effort to the left - but soon made amends with a similar kick that extended the lead to 10 points with 50 minutes on the clock.
The Stormers number 10 then added three further three-pointers - the last of which was from over 50 metres - as the hosts cantered away to an comfortable victory.