The DHL Stormers XXIII ended their Carling Currie Cup campaign with a 36-12 defeat against the Fidelity ADT Lions in Johannesburg on Friday.
Requiring a win to keep their semifinal hopes alive, the visitors fought hard until the final whistle, but were unable to make their opportunities count on the night.
The hosts opened the scoring when flyhalf Matt Coetzee kicked an early penalty, and they followed that up soon afterwards with a try from fullback Gilermoe Mentoe.
The DHL Stormers XXIII responded by camping in the 22, winning multiple penalties without being able to finish and get over the line.
Instead, it would be the Joburg team to score just before the break, with a maul try from captain Jarrod Cairns sending them into half-time with a 15-0 lead.
Both teams had their chances at the start of the second half without being able to take them.
Centre Ethan Adams scored the next try for the Fidelity ADT Lions and they had the bonus point wrapped up when flank Renzo du Plessis crossed the whitewash.
Markus Muller got the DHL Stormers XXIII on the scoreboard by bursting through the defensive line and racing over to score in the corner, but the hosts responded with a try from wing Atica Nela.
The DHL Stormers XXIII had the final say as hooker Altus Rabe scored from a maul on the final whistle.
The scorers:
For Fidelity ADT Lions:
Tries: Mentoe, Cairns, Adams, Du Plessis, Nela
Cons: Coetzee 4
Pen: Coetzee
For DHL Stormers XXIII:
Tries: Muller, Rabe
Con: Smith
DHL Stormers XXIII: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Luke Burger, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni (captain), 8 Eric Basson, 7 Luan Botha, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo.
Replacements: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Gert Kemp, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Kian Davis.
