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Stormers down spirited Kings

Cape Town - The Stormers stayed in the bottom-third of the Super Rugby log following a scrappy 19-11 win over the Kings at Newlands on Saturday evening.

It started raining fiercely just before kick-off and the field was reduced to a slippery watery surface by the time the players emerged from the tunnel.

The Stormers showed their hand at the start when they pinned the Kings down in their own half in the opening 10 minutes.

Click here for Sport 24's interactive commentary on the clash at Newlands

VIDEO: Stormers v Kings, highlights

The Stormers' pressure caused the Kings to fall foul on four occasions during that time, and fullback Joe Pietersen converted two of these penalties for an early 6-0 lead.

Towards the 20 minute mark the Kings managed to wrest some initiative and flyhalf George Whitehead reduced the deficit through a penalty.

Both sides were trying to play territorial rugby and every now and again, there were sustained tactical kicking duels.

The Kings, who lost flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis before kickoff, restricted the home side to a slender 6-3 lead by the time the teams changed ends.

The Stormers returned with a greater sense of urgency and again they threatened to crack the opposition but poor decision taking and occasional knock-ons put paid to their efforts.

The only reward was a close-range penalty which Pietersen steered through the posts to open up a six-point margin.

On the hour Newlands had another cloudburst, but thankfully the drainage managed to cope with the heavy rains.

Pietersen and Whitehead each managed a penalty in quick succession and the scoreboard moved to 12-6 with 15 minutes remaining.

A 65th minute driving maul from a line-out seven metres out proved the platform for the Stormers' only try, scored by flanker Deon Fourie.

Pietersen nailed a splendid conversion from touch for a 19-6 lead.

In the closing stages, Kings flanker Wimpie van der Walt squeezed over for an unconverted try via a driving maul, but Whitehead missed the conversion to make the score 19-11 in favour of the home side.

The Kings came close to a consolation try in the dying moments before the hooter sounded to bring an end to the game.

Scorers:

Stormers:

Try: Deon Fourie

Conversion: Joe Pietersen

Penalties: Joe Pietersen (4)

Kings:

Try: Wimpie van der Walt

Penalties: George Whitehead (2)

Teams:

Stormers:

15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Deon Fourie, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Don Armand, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Gerhard van den Heever

Kings:

15 SP Marais, 14 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Andries Strauss (captain), 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Cornell du Preez, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Darron Nell, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira

Substitutes: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Grant Kemp, 18 Rynier Bernado, 19 Devin Oosthuizen, 20 Shaun Venter, 21 Shane Gates, 22 George Whitehead

 
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