Cape Town – The Stormers ran in nine crowd-pleasing tries for an eventual 57-0 win over neighbours Boland in the friendly derby at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
From the outset the Stormers, in what was their final Super Rugby warm-up match, seemed content to keep ball in hand, even from positions deep inside their own half. They worked through phases and on occasion they showed enterprise, which Boland battled to contain.
Fullback Jaco Taute scored in the sixth minute after leftwing Bryan Habana raced clear before offloading the scoring pass. Flyhalf Kurt Coleman goaled the conversion (7-0).
Coleman was the architect of the Stormers' next try, five minutes later, when he landed a crossfield kick from 40 metres out for rightwing Gio Aplon to collect. Aplon tip-toed his way past the Boland rearguard to score next to the posts. Coleman missed the sitter (12-0).
Despite the two setbacks Boland kept their challenge alive with fierce tackles and commitment at the breakdown and the Stormers would have been pleased with the quality of the opposition.
The raw power in the Stormers' pack made life difficult for Boland but although their first line of defence did not always kick in they scrambled well.
Outside centre Jean de Villiers rounded off splendidly after the Stormers backline showed a fair turn of speed. Coleman was again wide of the mark with the conversion attempt (17-0).
The Stormers piled on the presur ahead of the break but they failed to convert any of the try-scoring chances and had to be content with a 17-0 lead at the break.
The Stormers managed far more accuracy in the game as the second half wore on and the scoreboard kept ticking over.
Lock Andries Bekker, back after a long injury lay off, had a fine first half and he opened the scoring in the second half. Joe Pietersen resumed the kicking duties and he goaled splendidly from near the corner flag (24-0).
The next 20 minutes saw the Stormers virtually double their lead thanks to three tries by flanker Siya Kolisi, two of which were converted by Petersen (43-0). Kolisi's second try was scored after a Stormers rolling maul, from 15 metres out, flattened their opponents.
Four minutes ahead of the final whistle, Aplon, and moments later Pietersen, gave the crowd one last cheer when they both darted in at the corner for the final tries of the match in the space of three minutes.
Pietersen nailed both conversions, one of which was a sevens-style drop-kick conversion (57-0).
Scorers: Stormers: Tries: Jaco Taute, Gio Aplon (2), Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker, Siya Kolisi (3), Joe Pietersen Conversions: Kurt Coleman, Pietersen (5). – Sapa