Stormers produce show of Force

JP Du Plessis: came off the bench to help Stormers protect their lead

Bryan Habana: scored interception try from 50 metres

The Stormers completed a successful tour of Australasia with a 17-3 victory over the Western Force in Perth.

Tries from Bryan Habana and Peter Grant, supplemented by seven points from Grant's boot, was enough for the South Africans to prevail in wet conditions.

The Force, who dumped their coach Richard Graham last week after he announced he was quitting to join Queensland Reds next year, broke the deadlock through a David Harvey penalty in the 17th minute.

But, four minutes later, fly-half Harvey's pass was intercepted by Stormers winger Bryan Habana, who took it back 50 metres for the opening try.

Grant converted to put the Stormers 7-3 up at the break and he extended that to 10-3 with a penalty early in the second half.

And sustained pressure from the visitors soon led to their second try, Grant ghosting through a gap to cross out wide on 49 minutes before adding the conversion via a post.

The Stormers remained resolute in defence during the last half-hour to close out their third win in four matches on their trip to Australia and New Zealand.

The Cape Town-based franchise have won eight out of nine this season and remain just ahead of the Bulls in the South African conference.

The Force have lost seven games and are already on the brink of elimination from the play-off race in the Australian conference.