Record-breaking Stormers shine as other SA teams falter

The win was also the biggest of the 2009 Vodacom Super 14, surpassing the Vodacom Bulls' 59-26 win over the Blues three weeks ago.

The sensational victory was the silver lining on a gloomy weekend for South African teams with both the Sharks and the Vodacom Cheetahs losing. It was the Lions' third loss in succession.

The result was a morale-boosting triumph for the Cape side which had lost three of its first four matches and now has a bye before tackling a tough five-match overseas tour.

The Stormers' winning margin of 38 surpassed their previous best of 31 achieved against the Brumbies in 1998. The 56 score is also their highest-ever, bettering the 51 points they scored against the Blues in 2004. The win also saw them equal their best try tally of eight in a match.

There are now three South African teams in the top half of the table with the win moving the Stormers to seventh place. The down side is that the Lions and the Cheetahs occupy the bottom two spots.

The Bulls, despite having a bye at the weekend, remain on top and are now the only team that remains unbeaten. The Sharks missed a golden opportunity to move into pole position when they slumped to a 25-13 loss against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday. It was their first defeat of the campaign and leaves them in third place.

The Cheetahs, meanwhile, crashed to a fifth consecutive defeat, when they were crushed 46-12 by the Blues on Friday. It was the Cheetahs' tenth Super Rugby defeat in succession. The win moves the Blues into fourth place in the standings.

The Waratahs unbeaten run also came to an end when they were beaten 21-11 by the Brumbies on Friday. Despite the loss the ‘Tahs remain in second place whilst the Brumbies move to sixth.

The Crusaders' losing streak came to an end when they played to a 23-all draw with the Force in Christchurch on Saturday. The result leaves them in 11th position whilst the Force occupy 9th place.

After a poor start to the campaign, the Chiefs secured a second consecutive win - beating the Highlanders 14-10 - to move to 8th place. The Highlanders' fourth loss in five outings leaves them in 12th position.

Leading Try Scorers

4 Casey Laulala (Crusaders), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Pierre Spies (Bulls)

3 Ashwin Willemse (Lions), Isaia Toeava Blues), Lelia Masaga Chiefs), Hosea Gear (Hurricanes), Peter Hynes Reds), Digby Ioane (Reds), Wynand Olivier (Bulls), Andries Bekker (Stormers)