A penalty try 15 minutes from time secured victory for the Chiefs as they ended the Stormers' unbeaten home run in Super Rugby this season with a deserved 15-9 success at Newlands on Saturday.
The match never reached any great heights as a spectacle with the fine defence of both sides, coupled with numerous unforced errors, ensuring it would be a low-scoring contest. Centre Anton Lienert-Brown scored the only other try for the Chiefs, while Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse landed two penalties and fullback SP Marais another for the hosts.
The win keeps the Chiefs' playoff hopes alive, but likely ends the ambitions of the Stormers, who did not show nearly enough on attack to suggest they deserved more. The Stormers had much of the early ball, but found the visitors' defence impenetrable, coming through that period with just a Willemse penalty to show for their superiority.
The Chiefs were on the scoreboard on 22 minutes when Damian McKenzie's cross-kick bounced favourably for the visitors and away from Stormers fullback Marais, allowing Lienert-Brown to cross unopposed for the try.
It was a rare moment of quality in an otherwise error-strewn first half that saw handling errors from both sides in what were perfect conditions for running rugby.
McKenzie tried a 60-metre penalty on the stroke of halftime that fell short at the Chiefs led 5-3 at the break.
The fare did not get much better in the opening period of the second half, as it turned into a kicking duel for territory that had no real winner.
McKenzie missed an excellent chance to extend the Chiefs advantage on 50 minutes with a penalty that was well wide of the posts, adding to the general poor quality of the play.
Good work at the breakdown shortly afterwards from Stormers centre Damian de Allende won a penalty directly in front of the posts and Willemse put the home side back into the lead.
An early jump at the line-out from Stormers lock Chris van Zyl gifted the Chiefs an attacking scrum five yards out, from which they won three successive penalties, and the fourth time the home side infringed, referee Mike Fraser awarded a penalty try.
McKenzie landed his first penalty of the afternoon to extend the Chiefs' lead to nine points with five minutes remaining, but the game was put back in the balance when Marais brought the home side within six with a three-pointer.
But the Chiefs defence stood firm as they were able to comfortably keep their hosts at bay to secure the win.