Grant kicks Stormers to win

Peter Grant kicked all the Stormers' points in an 18-6 Super Rugby victory over the previously unbeaten Highlanders at Newlands.

An ill-tempered, defence-dominated affair was settled by the accuracy of fly-half Grant's boot - in stark contrast to opposite number Robbie Robinson.

Robinson landed just two of five penalty attempts before being hauled off for veteran Tony Brown early in the second half.

The Stormers moved 9-0 up in 18 minutes as Grant punished a succession of infringements from the visitors.

Robinson, having already missed once, put the Highlanders on the board with a 20th-minute penalty.

And they almost reduced their deficit further straightaway, Bryan Habana's intercepted pass leading to Jason Rutledge going over under a pile of bodies - the TMO ruling Jean de Villiers had managed to prevent the grounding.

Robinson hit the post from out wide with another penalty chance on 24 minutes but made no mistake shortly afterwards to bring the Highlanders back to within three at 9-6.

Fight

A running battle between Andries Bekker and Jarrad Hoeat had been going on from the opening whistle and boiled over when a scrum broke down in the 35th minute - both locks being sent to cool off in the sin-bin.

Grant kept his 100 per cent success rate from the resulting penalty to send the Stormers into the break 12-6 ahead.

Robinson was off target again shortly after the resumption and soon found himself replaced by Brown as the Highlanders tried to find a way back into the contest.

It was not to be, however, as the Stormers' defence stood firm and further penalties from Grant in the 54th and 70th minutes sandwiched his solitary miss of the night and sealed the South African side's third win in row since their opening-week bye.

For the Highlanders, who claimed the scalp of the defending-champion Bulls last weekend, it was a first loss in four.