The Stormers ran in six sparkling tries in their 43-33 win over the English tourists Saracens in the international friendly clash at a sweltering Newlands on Sunday afternoon.
Some 26 000 spectators were treated to a nine-try feast, although the home crowd would be the first to agree that the Stormers would have to brush up on their act somewhat by the time the Sharks arrive for the Super 14 pipe-opener at the same venue in three weeks' time.
The English visitors, judging by the way the moved the ball along their backline in the opening minutes, seemed to relish the firm underfoot conditions at Newlands which was in magnificent condition.
However, they made their first sortie into the Stormers half when their flyhalf Glen Jackson placed a diagonal kick just behind the defence and his leftwing Kameli gathered smartly before running in unchallenged to open the scoring in the match. Jackson added the conversion in the third minute (7-0).
The early setback did not prove too much of a setback as the Stormers started asserting themselves on the match. They pinned Saracens down in their own half for a sustained eight-minute spell in they scored 10 points.
Stomers flyhalf Peter Grant was the first to chisel away at the Saracens lead with fifth minutepenalty and six minutes later leftwing Sireli Naqelevuki dotted down his side's first try, moments after Grant was held up just short of the line.
Grant goaled the conversion (10-7).
After Jackson was on target with a another penalty (10-10) the Stormers replied was another wave of attacks which Saracens battled to contain, and they relented to the pressure in the 19th minute when centre Gcobani Bobo dotted down gallantly with two opposition players hanging on. Grant's conversion gave the Stormers a 17-10 lead.
More impressive play by the Stormers followed but booing reared its ugly head at the famous venue in the 29th minute when Stormers eighthman Luke Watson set off on a run on his won 22m line and was roundly booed.
No doubt his 'vomit' comments about the Springbok jersey did not go down well with the Stormers supporters, who repeated the boos whenever Watson was in possession - even when he scored a try in the second half.
The Stormers' adventurous first half posed continuous problems for the visitors' defence but it took the home side another 20 minutes before they breached the defence again. This time hooker Schalk Brits was the scorer, and Grant was bang on target with another conversion attempt, while Jackson slotted over to penalties ahead of the break (24-16).
Saracens started off the second in the much the same fashion as the first when they scored a converted try, two minutes after the restart through wing Richard Haughton (24-23).
Again the Stormers were able to bounce back, this time with telling effect as they notched three tries in the space of 13 minutes through Watson, Naqelevuki and substitute Joe Pietersen. Grant was on target with two attempts to round off a 19-point burst.
Saracen's lone reply was a 61st minute converted try by Wikus van Heerden and a Jackson penalty (43-33).
In the final stages of the game both sides lost much of their cohesion and the many substitutions did not help their cause either, as both sets of defences held out in the last 19 minutes of play.
Scorers: Stormers: Tries: Sireli Naqelevuki (2), Gcobani Bobo, Schalk Brits, Luke Watson, Joe Pietersen. Conversions: Peter Grant (5). Penalty: Grant: Saracens: Tries: Kameli Taruvou, Richard Haughton, Wikus van Heerden.
Conversions: Glen Jackson (3). Penalties: Jackson (4).
Sapa