The game, played in intermittent rain, produced just two tries - both scored by the Stormers, one while they were reduced to just 14 men.

The Highveld is a summer rainfall area and this summer the rain has been surpassing itself, turning the veld green as it has come soaking down. Not because Ellis Park was green but because it was so soaked there were even fears that the match would be postponed.

Fans seemed to have thought that the trip was not worth the risk and the crowd, usually a large one for this traditional fixture, was sparse.

The ball was slippery and handling errors numerous. The Cats found catching especially difficult, especially from kicks.

The Cats started the half like a house on fire but as the half wore on the fire fizzled and threatened to become a damp squib.

From the kick-off Luke Watson knocked the ball forward and the Cats went piling in. The Stormers stopped them five metres from their line. Two five-metre scrums followed but Schalk Burger tackled Ernst Joubert and a group of Stormers bundled Wylie Human into touch near their cornerflag.

The Cats were penalised and it seemed that the Stormers had weathered the storm, but back came the Cats. When the Stormers were off-side they made a line-out and then a maul. They drove the maul many metres downfield where the Stormers were penalised for collapsing. Tiaan Snyman hoisted the penalty through the posts. 3-0.

From then on the Stormers came back into the game, getting more and more on top. When Jorrie Muller dropped a kick, Bolla Conradie footed on and the Stormers raced into the Cats. Jaque Fourie tried to clear from close quarters under his posts but kicked it to Werner Greeff in midfield.

The fullback chopped, chased, juggled and knocked the ball back. Adri Badenhorst got the ball on the right wing and made for the corner. Tackled by Earl Rose he popped the ball inside to Bolla Conradie who scored. From the right touch-line, right-footed Peter Grant goaled the conversion, and the Stormers led 7-3.

When Wayne Julies tackled high, Grant made it 10-3. When Rayno Benjamin tackled Rose late, the penalty was, because Rose has a  long boot, a long way downfield and Snyman made the score 10-6.

Soon after this De Wet Barry, the Stormers' captain, was sent to the sin bin for the reckless use of his head at a tackle/ruck. In his absence the Stormers "celebrated" by scoring 10 points.

The first came when Snyman heaved a long pass to his left, aiming in the direction of Wayne Julies. Instead Jean de Villiers intercepted and ran 60 metres for a try under the bar. Grant converted. 17-6

Benjamin also got an intercept off some wonky handling by Snyman, but Jorrie Muller got to him and De Villiers could not hold onto a difficult, slippery pass.

Half-time came with the Stormers leading 17-6 and deservedly so.

Early in the second half Grant goaled when Jannes Labuschagne was penalised at a tackle/ruck. 20-6. Then Barry came back. It was a long time before the Stormers added to their score!

Snyman kicked two more penalties and the Stormers were close to scoring when Jonghi Nokwe grubbered ahead going right and Benjamin footed into the Cats' in-goal area but Rose just managed to save.

The scoring ended when Labuschagne was penalised for taking Burger out in the air and Grant goaled.

The Stormers deserved their victory at soggy Ellis Park which became soggier as the game wore on.

Man of the Match: For the Cats there were perky Enrico Januarie till he left the field injured and skilled Jaque Fourie who saved situations and with little opportunity sought to create them. For the Stormers versatile Adri Badenhorst and combative Bolla Conradie had fine games. So did Ross Skeate and Jean de Villiers, but our Man of the match is Stormers fullback Werner Greeff - brave as always, committed as always and making a great contribution to his team's success.

The scorers:

For the Cats:
Pens: Snyman 4

For the Stormers:
Tries: Conradie, De Villiers
Cons: Grant 2
Pens: Grant 3

Yellow card: De Wet Barry (Stormers, 38)

Teams:

Cats: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wayne Julies, 11 Jorrie Muller, 10 Tiaan Snyman, 9 Enrico Januarie, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Jannes Labuschagne, 4 Trevor Hall, 3 Marius Hurter, 2 Lukas van Biljon, 1 Pietman van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Delarey du Preez, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 KleinJan Tromp, 19 Willem Stoltz, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Doppies la Grange, 22 Grant Esterhuizen

Stormers: 15 Werner Greeff, 14 Jonghi Nokwe, 13 De Wet Barry (captain), 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Adri Badenhorst, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Luke Watson, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Ross Skeate, 3 Eddie Andrews, 2 Hanyani Shimange, 1 JD Moller.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Attie Winter, 18 Henk Eksteen, 19 David Hendricks, 20 Neil de Kock, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Justin Peach.

Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
Touch judges: Marius Jonker, Johann Meuwesen (both South Africa)
Television match official: Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Assessor: James Apollis (South Africa)