Lions end Stormers' Currie Cup run

The DHL Stormers XXIII ended their Carling Currie Cup campaign with a 36-12 defeat against the Fidelity ADT Lions in Johannesburg on Friday.

Requiring a win to keep their semifinal hopes alive, the visitors fought hard until the final whistle but were unable to make their opportunities count on the night.

The hosts opened the scoring when flyhalf Matt Coetzee kicked an early penalty and they followed that up soon afterwards with a try from fullback Gilermoe Mentoe.

The Stormers XXIII responded by camping in the 22, winning multiple penalties without being able to finish and get over the line.

Instead, it would be the Joburg team to score just before the break, with a maul try from captain Jarrod Cairns sending them into half-time with a 15-0 lead.

Both teams had their chances at the start of the second half without being able to take them.

Centre Ethan Adams scored the next try for the Lions and they had the bonus point wrapped up (and moved them up to third on the log) when flank Renzo du Plessis crossed the whitewash.

Markus Muller got the Stormers XXIII on the scoreboard by bursting through the defensive line and racing over to score in the corner, but the hosts responded with a try from wing Atica Nela.

The Stormers XXIII had the final say as hooker Altus Rabe scored from a maul on the final whistle but it was too little too late.

For the Lions there is now a painful wait as their future in the competition is out of their hands as both the Airlink Pumas (Saturday v Toyota Cheetahs) and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (Sunday v Suzuki Griquas) can overtake them in the race for the top four.