Match Reports

A clinical Stormers team beat the Crusaders 42-14 at a packed Newlands today.

The Crusaders began the match well after being led out as usual by skipper Richie McCaw (pictured), who was playing his 100th game for the franchise.

The intensity was up several levels from last weekend's loss to the Force in Perth, but a combination of the Stormers form and strength and a heavy penalty count against the Crusaders put the red and blacks on the back foot.

The Stormers defence is one of the most effective in the competition and the Crusaders found it very tough to breach.

Still, the Crusaders scored the first try through Dan Carter after he charged down Peter Grant's attempted clearance and waited patiently for the ball to bounce kindly before he picked it up and went over for a seven-pointer after eight minutes.

Referee Stu Dickinson made his presence felt as early as the first minute when he penalised the Crusaders for obstruction from the kick-off.

Grant kicked that penalty and kicked six more all up as the Stormers took advantage of Dickinson's rulings. The Australian was especially tough on the Crusaders at the breakdown and No8 Kieran Read was sinbinned for infringing in this area just before halftime, despite appearing to have been pushed into a ruck by his teammates.

Carter's try made it 7-6 to the Crusaders but that would be the last time the visitors led as the Stormers effectively took control of the scoreboard through Grant's boot.

He kicked another two penalties in the first half to hand his team a 12-7 halftime lead, although he missed a chance to put the Stormers further ahead when his radar went awry for the one and only time.

Springbok centre Jaque Fourie scored the first of his two tries seven minutes after halftime when he broke through the defence and shrugged off several weak cover tackles to score a seven-pointer.

Two more Grant penalties pushed the score to 25-7 and the writing was on the wall for the Crusaders.

With 10 minutes left wing Sean Maitland showed great strength to stretch his way to the line but the TMO judged that he had lost the ball in the act of scoring.

Big wing Sireli Naqelevuki scored another try for the Stormers before the Crusaders responded with one of their own through fullback Colin Slade.

Halfback Andy Ellis' perfectly weighted kick pass was well taken by Slade and he stretched over for a try converted by Carter.

But the Stormers had the final say when Fourie scored his second try to seal it.

Captain McCaw said afterwards: ''The Stormers played very well tonight and deserved to win. It wasn't through a lack of trying but we came up against a pretty good Stormers side who put us under pressure.''

The Crusaders need to beat the table-topping Bulls to keep their play-off hopes alive.

With the upsets in the competition recently, it's certainly not out of the question, but they will need to be on top of their game to beat the defending champions.

Stormers - Tries: Jaque Fourie (2). Sireli Naqelevuki. Cons: Peter Grant (3). Pens: Grant (7).
Crusaders - Tries: Dan Carter, Colin Slade. Cons: Carter (2).

HT: 12-7

Kickers:
Stormers: Grant 10 from 11.
Crusaders: Carter 2 from 3.

Crusaders
1. Wyatt Crockett (Ben Franks 50)
2. Corey Flynn (Ti'i Paulo 18min)
3. Owen Franks
4. Brad Thorn
5. Chris Jack (Sam Whitelock 58)
6. George Whitelock
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Kieran Read (Thomas Waldrom 60)
9. Kahn Fotuali'i (Andy Ellis 42)
10. Dan Carter
11. Zac Guildford
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Robbie Fruean (Dan Bowden 49)
14. Sean Maitland
15. Colin Slade
Reserve not used:
22. Jared Payne