Emotional win for Brumbies

The Brumbies paid tribute to their fallen team-mate Shawn Mackay by beating the Stormers 17-10 in an emotionally charged Super 14 encounter in a wet Canberra on Saturday.

Slippery conditions threatened to put a dampener on this match, but both teams showed tremendous handling skills to move the ball around the park and avoid a kick-a-thon.

In fact, arguably the try of the season came from Jean de Villiers after the Stormers skipper took the ball on half-way and weaved his way around several Brumbies defenders before a dummy, sidestep and show of the ball found the visitors back in the hunt three minutes after the break.

However the Brumbies - who never looked like losing after holding a 9-0 lead at half-time - got one back of their own through replacement Patrick Phibbs to hold a seven-point buffer that they never relinquished.

Before the match there was a special moment for Mackay as the crowd and players held a minute of applause to celebrate the life of the Brumbies loose forward whose life was cut short following a motor vehicle accident in Durban.

Errors

Both teams were guilty of numerous handling errors, but in this respect, Mother Nature must share the blame. The Canberra Stadium was afflicted by a significant wind that served to exacerbate the pelting rainfall. And with both defensive lines delivering a robust performance, ball-spills were dime a dozen - despite the players' efforts to keep the game alive.

The Brumbies were clearly fired up by the memories of their team-mate and they played with a lot of passion - particularly on defence where they put in some huge hits. Stormers flanker Schalk Burger could attest to the fierce defence as he was on the receiving end of a couple of heavy hits by the home side.

The game in Canberra never reached any great heights due to the heavy rain that came down almost throughout the match. The Stormers battled to lay a platform early on with the rain and wind playing its part at the line-out.

Their ball retention at the ruck was better than last week against the Waratahs, but turnovers and poor decision-making after the third or fourth phase culled many a promising attack. The scrum also struggled, and with Brian Mujati stretchered from the field in the 31st minute, this set-piece continued to flounder.

The Brumbies, meanwhile, dominated the set scrums and also territory throughout the game. The visitors attempted to force the Brumbies into error with a barrage of kicks, but the hosts proved safe in the latter stages.

Neither team really threatened in attack in the first half, preferring to play for field position.

The highlight of the match was by far De Villiers' try. The Springbok centre caught a high kick from Joshua Holmes on the halfway line, alluded two would-be tacklers, ran down the left touchline before dummying and stepping left, and dummying again to score a brilliant solo try next to the posts.

The Brumbies hit back minutes later through another Gerrard penalty before the rain got even worse.

In the apocalyptic weather, kicks became an effective weapon as players from both teams battled under the high ball. A well-weighted Christian Lealiifano grubber was fumbled by Peter Grant, a fumble that allowed the Brumbies to force a turnover.

Phibbs then scored what was the be the match-winner, diving through a gap out wide after repeated threatening charges close to the line finally took its toll on the Stormers defence. Phibbs' try with 20 minutes to go put his team 20-7 ahead, but a Grant penalty put the Stormers back within one converted try with twelve minutes remaining.

It was a hotly contested finish, with the Brumbies kicking for possession and the Stormers defying the conditions with some gutsy running rugby. Grant missed a penalty chance with five minutes to go, and the Brumbies managed to get the win by the skin of their teeth keeping their play-off hopes alive.

The Stormers' slight chance of remaining in the play-off race is now well and truly over. They've lost all three of their tour matches and will face an uphill battle against the resurgent Hurricanes and Highlanders in the coming weeks. From here, the Cape franchise would do well to finish the competition in the top seven.