Cheslin Kolbe's hat-trick and an assured first Super Rugby start for Damian Willemse should have been enough for a comfortable Stormers win. However, their ill-discipline allowed the Cheetahs to salvage a semblance of pride even though they were second best.In the 20 minutes they had players off the field for needless infractions, they conceded 24 points but showed enough composure.
The pocket rocket wing overshadowed a tepid officiating display by Jaco van Heerden to ensure coach Robbie Fleck will have a home quarterfinal as the Africa 1 Conference winners. Entrusted with the goalkicking after SP Marais's injury-enforced 15th-minute exit, Kolbe collected 23 points, denying the hosts a sentimental win.
Only 13330 rocked up for what could be the last Super Rugby game in Bloemfontein.
The quality of the rugby wasn't the type to excite the most ardent armchair analysts but the two sides were sharp enough to make the most of their one-man advantages.
After Niel Marais's 25th-minute carding for a professional foul, Kolbe and Seabelo Senatla crossed the whitewash in the 28th and 31st minutes respectively to give the visitors a 16-point buffer.
Through Kolbe's second-minute touchdown, the Stormers had drawn first blood but a seventh-minute Reniel Hugo try and a 18th-minute Marais penalty gave the hosts a somewhat undeserved first quarter lead.
In the lead-up to Marais's yellow, the Stormers had three rolling maul attempts that were legally and illegally thwarted. As for the Stormers, Rynardt Elstadt's brainlessness saw him concede a 38th-minute yellow from where Elandre Huggett scored from the resulting maul a minute later. The scatterbrained loose forward was later sent off for retaliation...