Cape Town - The Stormers scored a comprehensive 33-0 win over the Cheetahs in their Super Rugby derby at a wind-swept Newlands on Saturday evening.
The whitewash win, courtesy four answered tries, was sweet revenge for the Stormers who suffered a 35-22 defeat in Bloemfontein just over a month ago.
The Cheetahs also paid a price on the standings as their defeat allowed the Stormers to overtake them and move to third position on the SA Conference standings, behind the Sharks and Bulls.
The Stormers were forced into several pre-match changes when their captain Jean de Villiers and Brok Harris were declared unfit to play. New Springbok training squad member Damian de Allende was moved from right wing to inside centre to fill in for De Villiers, and flank Schalk Burger took over the captaincy.
Kobus van Wyk came off the bench to take De Allende's place, and Samoan-born Sailosi Tagicakibau was named as a substitute.
On the bench, Harris was replaced by loosehead prop Martin Dreyer.
A sixth-minute driving maul from a line-out five metres away from the Cheetahs tryline was rounded off by hooker Deon Fourie diving over for the first try of the match.
Flyhalf Kurt Coleman's conversion attempt was short - it hovered in the air, as the wind held it up (5-0).
Cheetahs Skipper Adriaan Strauss was yellow-carded in the 21st minute for a dangerous tackle on Van Wyk. Reserve hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld joined the fray and eighthman Boom Prinsloo was sacrificed to ensure the Cheetahs were restricted to 14 players at the time.
Coleman opened up an 8-0 lead with a 35m penalty in the 29th minute.
The hosts sprung an adventurous 34th minute move from their own 22 and with backs and forwards linking superbly in an upfield surge, Van Wyk ended off by running through the Cheetahs defence to score his side's second try.
This time Coleman goaled the conversion (15-0).
At the start of the second half, Siya Kolisi replaced Burger who seemed to be troubled by a knock to his neck, early in the match. In the backline, first-half try-scorer Van Wyk made way for Tagicakibau.
Coleman added a penalty in the 51st minute as the Stormers took an 18-0 lead.
Just on the hour mark, substitute Peter Grant, who had barely been on the field for a minute goaled a penalty (21-0).
In the 69th minute, the Stormers' pressure took its toll and Kolisi romped in for a converted try (28-0).
The home side secured the bonus point three minutes from time, as Tagicakibau scored his first try in a Stormers jersey. Grant's conversion attempt failed, but it did not matter as the home side claimed a resounding victory.
Scorers: Stormers: Tries: Deon Fourie, Kobus van Wyk, Siya Kolisi, Sailosi Tagicakibau. Conversions: Kurt Coleman, Peter Grant. Penalties: Coleman (2). Grant. - Sapa