Blues edge Stormers in cliffhanger

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 03: Deon Fourie of the Stormers charges into Culum Retallick of the Blues during the round 12 Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Stormers at North Harbour Stadium on May 3, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 03: Deon Fourie of the Stormers charges into Culum Retallick of the Blues during the round 12 Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Stormers at North Harbour Stadium on May 3, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Published May 3, 2013

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Auckland - Fyhalf Chris Noakes kicked six penalties to lift the Auckland-based Blues to an 18-17 win over South Africa's Stormers in their Super Rugby showdown on Friday.

Noakes became the first Blues player to kick six penalties in a match, missing only one attempt at goal as his team heavily punished the Cape Town-based Stormers for lapses in composure and technique.

Just as the outcome of the match seemed clear, with the Blues leading 15-3 and 15 minutes remaining, Stormers centre and captain Jean de Villiers ran in two exceptional tries to all but snatch a win.

The Stormers held the ball through more than 20 phases in stoppage time to set up a dropped goal chance for replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies but his attempt went harmlessly astray. - Reuters and Sapa-AP

Scores:

Blues - Penalties: Noakes (6)

Stormers - Tries: Jean de Villiers (2); Conversions: Joe Pietersen (2); Penalties: Pietersen.

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