Reds end Stormers' run

Cooper: 14 points for the Queenslanders

The Reds inflicted the Stormers' first Super Rugby defeat of the season as the hosts paid dearly for an error-strewn performance at Newlands.

Quade Cooper kicked 14 points, with Mike Harris' solitary try late on confirmed a gritty success for the Queenslanders.

The Stormers were not helped by playing 20 minutes with a man down after yellow cards for Duane Vermeulen and Deon Fourie.

The second of those came at an especially crucial time, late on in the game and with the difference between the sides being just three points, as the visitors went on to complete a sixth win in seven games.

The hosts were quickly reduced to 14 men after Vermeulen was punished for throwing punches after the ball had left a maul.

Fortunately for the number eight it did not cost his side anything apart from possession.

But when he returned 20 minutes in, Cooper's penalty finally broke the deadlock - the infringement coming from Wicus Blaauw, who stuck out his leg on Will Genia.

Moments later Peter Grant was penalised for holding on illegally, allowing the Australia fly-half to double the advantage with a kick from the left.

Francois Louw was the next man to make a costly mistake in a kickable position - he played the ball illegally on the ground - as Cooper made it three from three.

Grant did manage to pull one back before the break to finally put his side on the board, but his team went into the break 9-3 behind.

Handling

As the game resumed, the Cape Town side were especially poor with their handling - making several uncharacteristic mistakes.

It took 18 minutes of the second half for the next set of points to arrive via the boot of Grant after the Reds were caught offside.

Cooper missed an easy chance to restore the gap to six after Louw was caught with his hands in a ruck.

But any hopes of a comeback were virtually ended with Fourie's sin-binning 13 minutes from time for a needless trip - Cooper slotting over the resulting penalty.

With the clock winding down, it was mainly defending for last season's runners-up thereafter and Harris added a late try when he drove over after taking a pass from Genia.

Cooper converted to complete an excellent win that takes the Australians second in the overall standings, second to the Crusaders on points difference.