Rugby: Stormers hammer Chiefs in Hamilton

Stormers captain Schalk Burger addresses his side. Photo / Getty Images

The Stormers stamped their Super 14 title credentials in devastating fashion, and put another nail in the Chiefs' rugby season with a 49-15 win in Hamilton tonight.

Led by massive performances from captain Schalk Burger and fellow forwards Andries Bekker and Tiaan Liebenberg, the Stormers rumbled in for six tries to two, to cement their top-four spot and sound a warning to the other contenders.

First five-eighth Peter Grant kicked eight from 10 for a haul of 19 points as the South Africans posted their seventh win from nine matches and go back-to-back in New Zealand after an impressive win over the Blues, which followed a shock defeat to the Force in Perth.

It was also a record win for the Stormers against the Chiefs.

``I'm really proud of the boys, it's tough to go back-to-back in this competition but we managed to do it so it's a pretty awesome week,' Burger told Sky Sport.

The Chiefs were outgunned and offered little on defence or attack, last year's runners-up crashing to their fifth defeat and highly unlikely to make the playoffs with four rounds remaining.

There was only one team in it from the opening minutes as the big, powerful Stormers stamped an indelible mark on the match against a stunned home side.

Based on a solid platform up front, the Stormers ran the ball confidently and scored several long-range efforts which reflected huge confidence in their ranks. Forwards charged around the park like backs and the handling was slick, with Burger leading the way and Bekker belying his 2.08m height with an athletic display.

They opened their try account with one of the touchdowns of the season which began on their own 22m, saw Burger and fellow Springbok Jaque Fourie handle twice before the prolific Bryan Habana capped a stunning movement.

They were quickly out to 20-3 up when fullback Gio Aplon returned a stray kick and No 8 Duane Vermeulen had a simple run in.

With their scrum creaking, the Chiefs struggled to pierce the Stormers' imposing defence, with fullback Tim Nanai-Williams the only real threat on attack. They also lost first five-eighth Mike Delany to injury late in the first half which saw Stephen Donald shift back to pivot.

But somehow the Chiefs only trailed by 10 points at the break after Sione Lauaki drove from an attacking scrum and popped a pass to Tanerau Latimer who scored under the posts on the stroke of halftime.

It was quickly beyond doubt after the break when Liebenberg finished another sweeping movement, with Bekker and Burger heavily involved again.

Then powerful Fijian winger Sireli Naqelevuki dived over from another impressive buildup with Burger again rampaging with the ball, Grant's conversion making it 37-10 with more than a quarter remaining.

Bekker was then rewarded for an outstanding game when he crossed out wide after a Stormers rolling maul rumbled the Chiefs backwards, before Nanai-Williams got one back for the hosts with an athletic dive in the corner.

Stormers 49 (Bryan Habana, Duane Vermeulen, Tiaan Liebenberg, Sireli Naqelevuki, Andries Bekker, Deon Fourie tries; Peter Grant 3 pen, 5 con) Chiefs 15 (Tanerau Latimer, Tim Nanai-Williams tries; Stephen Donald pen, con). Halftime: 20-10.

- NZPA