Super 14 rookie Joe Pietersen scored two tries to help Western Stormers to a hard-fought 28-22 win over Central Cheetahs in a South African derby on Saturday.
Getting an opportunity in the absence of injured Springbok Conrad Jantjes, Pietersen scored either side of half-time to ensure the Stormers finished a disappointing season on a high.
The four log points earned mean Stormers end their season in 10th position with 27 points, while the Cheetahs, winners on just two occasions this year, finish bottom.
The Cheetahs dominated the early exchanges and it came as no surprise when scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, thanks to hard work by centers Meyer Bosman and Corne Uys, scored a try after only five minutes.
Fly-half Naas Olivier added the conversion to give his side a deserved 7-0 lead, but impressive though the hosts were in the opening 10 minutes, they struggled to make much of an impact over the next half hour.
On the 15-minute mark, Cheetahs flank Juan Smith and hooker Adriaan Strauss lost possession on the halfway line, allowing the Stormers to grab hold of the ball and launch a telling counter-attack.
Outside center Dylan Des Fountain had the simplest of run-ins for his team’s opening score and the extra points were added by fly-half Willem de Waal.
The Stormers fly-half soon struck a further three points via a penalty, but just a minute before the interval Cheetahs were level at 10-10 after a penalty by Olivier.
But it would be the visitors who went into the change-rooms in the ascendancy when fullback Pietersen, who beat the tackle attempt of Jongi Nokwe, scored a try converted by De Waal after the hooter sounded.
Two further De Waal penalties and a second try by Pietersen inside the first 20 minutes of the second stanza saw the Stormers hold a commanding 28-10 lead.
The Cheetahs never gave up and enjoyed some good periods in the final quarter.
Flanker Heinrich Brussow came close to getting his side back into the contest, but his lunge to the tryline in the 68th minute was deemed to be short by the TV match official.
But with five minutes left Cheetahs got their second try, scored from close range by replacement forward Nico Breedt.
Olivier easily converted from in front of the posts and in the dying moments of the match lock David de Villiers went over for his team’s third try to earn the home team a bonus point.
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