Stormers stop Brumbies’ unbeaten run

The Stormers managed to get the jump on the in-form Brumbies, defeating the Canberra side 35-22 in Newlands, Cape Town, on Saturday, 23 March 2013.

Pack leader Andries Bekker turned in another inspired performance for the Stormers, and was a deserved recipient of the man-of-the-match award. Bekker capped his performance with two tries, but it was his defence and the sheer ferocity with which he threw himself around the place that played such a big part in denting the Brumbies.

There was a bit of scrambling from the home side in the early stages, but a 45-metre Joe Pietersen penalty put the first points on the board and this galvanised the Stormers as Gio Aplon weaved his way through for a try that was converted by Pietersen to make it 10-0.

Bekker scored near the corner flag in the 22nd minute off a Stormers line-out drive and at 17-3 and the Brumbies were always chasing the game after that.

A second Bekker try, again with the impressive attacking skills of Jantjies playing a role, ensured the Stormers went into the break with a 12-point buffer. Gerhard van den Heever intercepted and ran 50 metres for the fourth Stormers try with five and a bit minutes remaining.

Scorers:

DHL Stormers – Tries: Gio Aplon, Andries Bekker (2), Gerhard van der Heever. Conversions: Joe Pietersen (3). Penalties: Pietersen (3).

Brumbies – Try: Henry Speight. Conversion: Christian Lealiifano. Penalties: Lealiifano (4).