Stormers 11-17 Chiefs: Visitors secure semi-final berth
Last Updated: 22/07/17 6:53pm
Replacement winger Shaun Stevenson scored a late try as the Chiefs claimed a hard-fought 17-11 victory over the Stormers in their Super Rugby quarter-final at Newlands on Saturday.
The match was billed as a likely high-scoring one, especially after the Chiefs romped to a 60-21 triumph at the same stage in Cape Town last year, but instead it was more of an arm-wrestle in which the visitors ultimately came out on top.
They now head back to New Zealand to face the Crusaders next weekend, while the Lions will host the Hurricanes in Johannesburg in the other semi-final.
The Stormers, who have now lost eight of their nine play-off matches in Super Rugby, scored their points through a try by captain Siya Kolisi and two penalties from full-back SP Marais.
The Chiefs led 9-3 at half-time thanks to three penalties from Damien McKenzie with the Stormers' only points coming via the boot of SP Marais.
The Stormers came out firing in the second period and Kolisi crossed for a try in the corner to narrow the lead to a single point.
The teams traded penalties after that but the Chiefs' cause was not helped by a yellow card for flanker Sam Cane on the hour mark.
The home side had the opportunity to take the lead with a penalty 10 minutes from time, but Marais missed, allowing the Chiefs to go up field and after a period of pressure, they sucked in enough defenders to allow Stevenson to canter over unopposed in the corner to seal the win.
"We live to fight another day and head back home to New Zealand for a semifinal in Christchurch," Chiefs captain Aaron Cruden said at the post-match presentation. "It took a massive effort. We are going to have to recover really well for next weekend.
"It probably wasn't the prettiest game, but you have to be able to handle the pressure moments. We would rather win ugly than lose pretty."