The Stormers returned form the month-long international break to beat the Lions 27-17 in their South African derby in Super Rugby on Saturday.
Without Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Bryan Habana, the Stormers crossed through fullback Gio Aplon, loose forward Jebb Sinclair and wing Gerhard van den Heever to survive a strong challenge from the coachless Lions at Newlands.
The visitors from Johannesburg had shrugged off their problems with coach John Mitchell’s suspension to close it to 13-10 early in the second half after captain Joshua Strauss’s rampaging run and score.
But Canada international Sinclair and Van der Heever scored in the last 10 minutes to seal victory for the Stormers and keep them ahead in the South African conference and second overall behind New Zealand’s Chiefs.