Stormers pay the penalty
The Stormers began their four-match tour of Australasia with a stunning 30-23 defeat to the Chiefs.
Last Updated: 14/05/11 12:50pm
The sin-binning of Gio Aplon proved decisive as the Stormers began their four-match tour of Australasia with a 30-23 defeat to the Chiefs.
Wing Aplon, who scored a stunning first half try, was sent to the bin three minutes into the second half with the Stormers cruising at 20-3 in front.
However, his professional foul on Richard Kahui resulted in a converted penalty try, and from there on the Chiefs completed a remarkable comeback.
Sitiveni Sivivatu touched down to reduce the deficit to a converted score and a Liam Massam try and a brace of Stephen Donald penalties ensured the home side came away with the points.
Cynical
Aplon gave the Stormers the perfect start on 18 minutes when he touched down from a set piece.
The Springboks flyer received the ball from a scrum and weaved through a number of would-be tacklers to crash over.
Grant, who kicked two penalties prior to Aplon's score, added the extras as the visitors surged into a 13-3 lead.
With the Chiefs at sixes and sevens, Stormers captain Schalk Burger increased that lead further with a powerful score, with Grant's conversion handing Stormers a 17-point lead at half-time.
But the game completely turned on its head three minutes after the interval when Aplon cynically tugged back Kahui with the Kiwi centre destined to score.
Donald slotted over the extras after the penalty try and within minutes Chiefs were back in the hunt when Sivivatu pounced on a kick through to touch down.
Fly-half Donald added a penalty in the 52nd minute which tied the scores and, after Grant had kicked the Stormers into a 23-20 lead, put the Chiefs ahead with a penalty and also the conversion of Messam's 59th-minute try.
Another penalty from Donald kept the Stormers at arms' length and the home side comfortably held on to inflict a second successive defeat on the South Africans.
