The Stormers, their defensive tenacity again to the fore, have held out the Hurricanes in an arm wrestle to grab an 18-16 Super Rugby win in Palmerston North.
Both sides scored two tries on Friday night, with winger Gio Aplon getting what turned out to be the winner midway through the second half.
The Hurricanes had a good share of possession in the final quarter, but found the South Africans’ defence too rigid to breach again.
The result gave the Stormers a winning start to their four-match Australasian tour and lifted them above the Hurricanes in the middle of the table.
The visitors had a wind in their faces in the opening spell and did well to turn around at halftime just 11-7 down.
Fullback Joe Pietersen landed two penalties to nudge them 13-11 ahead, before the Hurricanes demonstrated good patience in attack to get back in front.
Winger Alapati Leiua made the initial break, and there were two key contributions from flanker Brad Shields before fullback Andre Taylor dotted down.
The lead lasted a matter of minutes as the home side lost the ball on their own 22.
From a scrum move, impressive Stormers No.8 Duane Vermeulen’s charge at the line was finished off by Aplon.
Earlier, the Hurricanes were first on the board with two Beauden Barrett penalties before the Stormers hit back via one of their strengths.
A penalty took them inside the opposition 22 and, from the lineout, they rolled toward the tryline, before the maul’s collapse led to Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush being sin-binned.
The Stormers turned down the shot at goal and opted for another lineout, fashioned another maul and received a repeat penalty.
The sequence was repeated two more times before flanker Michael Rhodes finally drove over, with Pietersen adding the extras for a 7-6 lead.
The Hurricanes went back in front just out from halftime after a scything break from halfback TJ Perenara led to a try for winger Matt Proctor in his Super Rugby debut.
Barrett had a chance to convert from a handy position, but winger Bryan Habana, returning from a knee injury, showed huge enthusiasm to charge the attempt down.