After winning by a mere one point for the last two weekends, the Hurricanes’ run of good fortune was brought to an end by a rampant Stormers by 30-17 in New Plymouth. The New Zealand side made too many mistakes, turned the ball over too often and lost the forwards battle, at the same time blowing a chance to go to the top of the table.

By contrast the Stormers dominated the game from the outset, taking the lead in the second minute when first five Peter Grant kicked a penalty. The Hurricanes' high-risk attack cost them more points two minutes later when stand-in captain Paul Tito passed the ball straight to Stormers centre Sean de Villiers. who sprinted 20 metres to score under the posts.

The Hurricanes’ woes were compounded ten minutes later when centre Ma’a Nonu left the field injured. Another Grant penalty stretched the South African side's lead to 13-0, before the Hurricanes’ backline put together a brilliant move which saw winger David Smith crash over in the corner. First five Jimmy Gopperth converted, then added a penalty five minutes later and the Hurricanes went into half time down by only  13-10.

Early in the second half de Villiers should have had his second try on the end of a brilliant counter attack, only to be stopped centimetres short by Hurricanes’ full back Corey Jane. However, the Stormers could not be denied and scored three minutes later as Number 8 Justin Melck finished off a rare and controversial push-over try.

Replacement winger Corne Uys scored the Stormers’ third try in the 59th minute after a brilliant crossfield kick from Grant, and seven minutes later Breyton Paulse put the game away when he scored the Stormers’ fourth try, earning his team a bonus point. Paulse’s try was also the second intercept try by the Stormers. Hurricanes’ fullback Corey Jane scored a late consolation try for the home team.

The Stormers did not score a try until the third week of the Super 14, but against the Hurricanes their back line looked like it had been running in tries all season with midfielders Dewet Barry and de Villiers standing out. Captain Luke Watson played a brilliant game and must surely earn a Springboks jersey this season as the Stormers’ loose-forward trio dominated their opposites.

The Hurricanes can take few positives from this match, their lone try coming from the one occasion that their backline threatened. Up front the tight forwards were simply out-worked by the hungrier Stormers. Rookie winger David Smith was one of the few Hurricanes players to show any heart, and never stopped trying despite the ever increasing deficit.

Two weeks ago Reds coach Eddie Jones was fined A$10,000 for criticising referee Matt Goddard’s performance. Tonight Goddard was even worse, failing to control the scrums correctly, ruling inconsistently and often incorrectly at the tackle ball and inexplicably allowing the Stormers' push-over try after the Hurricanes’ front rowers had stood up.

When any front rower stands up in a scrum the referee is obligated to blow the whistle and reset the scrum. The standard of refereeing in this year’s Super 14 has not been good, but Goddard has to my mind stood out as one referee who simply is not up to the required standard.