Late Fourie try helps Stormers pip Hurricanes

A late Deon Fourie push-over try set up Western Stormers for a 19-18 win over Wellington Hurricanes Friday in a tense Super 15 struggle at Newlands. Fly-half Demetri Catrakilis converted from near the touchline and the South Africans won a third-round match they seemed likely to lose after trailing 12-6 at half-time. Catrakilis gave another faultless goal-kicking performance, also slotting four penalties for a 14-point haul before an often subdued Newlands stadium crowd. New Zealand wings Julian Savea and Cory Jane scored a try each for the visitors and fly-half Beauden Barrett converted one and landed two penalties. It was a match Stormers dared not lose after a shock defeat by fellow South Africans Golden Lions last weekend, and a tough four-match tour of Australasia starting next weekend. Hurricanes, who began their season by failing badly against the Coastal Sharks in Durban last weekend, will be disappointed at not ending an eight-year losing streak in Cape Town. "It was better than last weekend," said Stormers and Springboks captain and centre Jean de Villiers. "This has been a tough week with many harsh words after the Lions loss. "Had I been offered a one-point win before the game, the answer would have been 'yes'. Let us give credit to the Hurricanes -- they are a tough, quality side." All Blacks and Hurricanes centre and skipper Conrad Smith said: "Rugby can be a cruel game as we played really well only to lose at the death. "Our defence was outstanding and I am really proud of the boys. A couple of tour defeats is disappointing, but there is a long season ahead."   Long and short-range Catrakilis penalties pushed Stormers six points ahead before Hurricanes struck back with two opportunist tries before half-time. A Smith inside break and a perfectly weighted grubber kick from scrum-half TJ Perenara set up Savea to dot down and Barrett converted. Just three minutes later the one-point advantage stretched to six as Jane grabbed a Hadleigh Parkes cross-field kick at almost ground level and slid over. Catrakilis twice narrowed the gap to three points and Barrett twice restored it to six during a second-half exchange of penalties. Awarded a close-range penalty in front of the posts, Stormers opted for a kick to touch and a desperate battle for possession ensued. Hurricanes repulsed several charges toward the try-line before the home team won a line-out, drove forward and Fourie scored. The tension continued well after the full-time siren as Wellington staged a patient, 16-phase assault in search of a match-winning score that ended when the ball was knocked on. Source: AFP