Stormers run to bonus-point victory

Western Stormers abandoned a traditional kicking game in favourof running the ball Saturday and earned a bonus-point 29-28 Super 15 victory overOtago Highlanders at Newlands.It was only the third win for the South Africans in 10 matches this season -- liftingthem off the bottom -- and their first four-try haul of the campaign. A thrilling tussle saw the New Zealanders score 14 points when Stormers hookerScarra Ntubeni was sin-binned to snatch a two-point lead just before the hour.But Highlanders' replacement hooker Brayden Mitchell was yellow carded on 66minutes for a dangerous tackle and Stormers' substitute playmaker Peter Grantkicked the resulting penalty.It proved the decisive score as Highlanders fell just short in the final match of a tourthat began with a shock triumph over leaders Coastal Sharks in Durban lastweekend.However, a losing bonus point lifted the Dunedin outfit one place to eighth and theyremain contenders for a top-six finish and a play-offs place.Props scored three of Stormers' tries with tighthead Frans Malherbe bagging a braceafter failing to score even one in 40 previous Super Rugby appearances.Stormers took just 90 seconds to score a try after skipper and centre Jean de Villiersopted to run a penalty that would almost certainly have yielded three ponts.De Villiers took the tap kick, Malherbe barged over, and fly-half Kurt Colemanstayed composed to convert after resetting a ball that fell off the kicking tee. Highlanders levelled on seven minutes when fly-half Lima Sopoaga -- second highestSuper 15 scorer this season -- added the extra points to a solo try from scrum-halfAaron Smith.Another Malherbe try put the Stormers back in front on the half hour as he snatcheda clever off-load from flank Schalk Burger and dived over.Coleman converted and the lead stretched to 19-7 on 34 minutes when right-wingDamian de Allende went over in the corner after Stormers stole a line-out and ranthe ball.Although Highlanders had little possession and rarely visited Stormers' half, theynarrowed the deficit to 19-14 with a second converted try three minutes before half-time.A Sopoaga grubber kick and a kick in field from full-back Ben Smith set up left-wingTrent Renata to outpace De Allende and dot down.The prop-scoring trend continued nine minutes into the second half whenreplacement loose-head Oliver Kebble drove over for a bonus-point try that Colemanconverted.But Highlanders took full advantage of the Ntubeni yellow card for a breakdowninfringement with Ben Smith and centre Malakai Fekitoa crossing and Renataconverting both with Sopoaga injured.Stormers regained the lead through Grant and finished stronger, coming closeseveral times to scoring a push-over try. Source: AFP