Super Rugby
Stormers hand Cheetahs another heavy defeat
ESPN Staff
May 30, 2015
Report Match details
Date/Time: May 30, 2015, 17:05 local, 15:05 GMT
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Stormers 42 - 12 Cheetahs
Half-time: 23 - 7
Tries: de Allende, Koch, Notshe, Senatla 2
Cons: Catrakilis 4
Pens: Catrakilis 3
Tries: Greeff, Prinsloo
Cons: Pietersen
The Stormers' Juan de Jongh takes off for a run, Stormers v Cheetahs, Cape Town, May 30, 2015
The Stormers' Juan de Jongh takes off for a run
© Getty Images
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South Africa sevens star Seabelo Senatla scored his first two Super Rugby tries to help the Stormers trounce the Cheetahs 42-12 Saturday and move closer to a play-offs place.

Senatla, who made his championship debut last weekend, claimed his brace as the home side ran in five to pick up a bonus point before a 20,000 Cape Town crowd. The dreadlocked 22-year-old winger has quickly adjusted to 15-a-side rugby after finishing leading 2015 Sevens World Series try-scorer with 43, and a nomination for player of the season.

He used power and pace to score his first-half tries at Newlands stadium while South African conference leaders Stormers moved within four points of clinching first place and a top-three finish. The Stormers complete their season with two more South African derbies, at home to the Lions next Saturday and away to the Sharks in Durban a week later. One more victory would lift the Cape Town outfit to 47 points, and out of the reach of their two challengers, the Lions and three-time champions the Bulls.

Stormers 42-12 Cheetahs (Australia only)

The Stormers' victory was laid around two predictable foundations -- flawless goal-kicking by fly-half Demetri Catrakilis and a potent scrum. Ultra-calm and methodical in his pre-kick routine, the playmaker did not miss a shot at goal, slotting four conversions and three penalties for a 17-point contribution. Catrakilis lies second on the scorers chart this season, 13 points behind Bulls fly-half Handre Pollard and 14 ahead of Highlanders' playmaker Lima Sopoaga.

Even the early loss of injured hooker Scarra Ntubeni did not dilute the strength of the Stormers' scrummaging with replacement Bongi Mbonambi and props Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch dominant.

A heavy defeat was a sad climax to eight years as Cheetahs coach for former Springboks hooker Naka Drotske, whose squad has been ravaged by injuries to key players. Another former Springbok, Franco Smith, takes over for the final fixtures of the season against the New South Wales Waratahs (home) and Bulls (away) at the start of a four-year contract.

© AAP

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