Super Rugby: Stormers power past Force
Last Updated: 09/07/16 3:27pm
The Stormers continued to build form ahead of the Super Rugby play-offs with a 22-3 victory over Western Force.
Two quick-fire tries in the dying minutes of the first half from Kobus van Wyk and Siya Kolisi put the Stormers in the driving seat at the break.
In a second half hampered by the conditions, the Stormers crossed again through Van Wyk to seal the victory, the Force's only reply coming from the boot of Jono Lance.
Lance struck first in the match getting the Force up and running on the scoreboard before the game was forced into two lengthy injury breaks.
Angus Cottrell was forced from the field in the opening ten minutes; his knee looking to give way as he fell to the ground with a head knock, with Daniel du Plessis departing moments after the game restarted.
Du Plessis was shown a yellow card after 10 minutes while being carried from the field on a stretcher. The centre was adjudged to have taken Marcel Brache out in the air, the foot of the winger catching the head of Du Plessis on the way to the floor.
The Stomers hit back with a penalty of their own through Jean-Luc du Plessis after an infringement but the game had to wait until the 39th minute for the opening try, Van Wyk waltzing over unopposed.
The visitors quickly struck with a second blow just moments before the half-time hooter when Kolisi powered over putting his side into a 15-3 lead.
The rain started to take a hold on the game but it didn't dampen the Stormers' spirits with Van Vyks sliding over the whitewash for his second of the match.
As the game ticked into the final minutes, the Force looked to have bagged themselves a consolation try through Kyle Godwin but as the centre reached for the line, the ball slipped from his grasp as he was hit by the ferocious Stormers defence.
The Stormers were far from finished with their efforts for the day went close with their driving maul edging ever closer to the line before conceding the penalty for going off their feet as they crumbled just short.
The Stormers fans thought that Peter Grant had rounded off a comprehensive performance from his side at the death as he sliced through the Force defence but their man couldn't round off the score, losing it forward with the line at his mercy.