The Stormers picked up two second-half tries to keep their hopes of reaching the Super 14 semi-finals alive with a 26-16 victory over the Otago Highlanders on Saturday.

Hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and his replacement Schalk Brits scored in the space of 10 minutes to break open a game that was deadlocked 9-9 at halftime.

A sluggish first half, littered with scrum restarts, featured three penalties by Stormers flyhalf Tony Brown and a 25-metre drop goal and two penalties by Otago pivot Mike Delany.

The Stormers took the lead with a penalty from replacement flyhalf Peter Grant at the start of the second half.

The South Africans then notched the first touchdown of the match after 50 minutes when Liebenberg evaded a tackle from Otago winger Fetu’u Vainikolo to dive over in the corner.

The Highlanders were reduced to 14 men on the hour as tighthead prop Clint Newland was sin-binned for repeated infringements.

The Stormers made it 26-9 when Brits scored his try after breaking free from a maul and Grant converted.

Vainikolo grabbed a late consolation try for the New Zealanders.

The Stormers are fifth in the table on 31 points and the Highlanders are 12th.

© Reuters 2012

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