It was the visitors' seventh win in eight matches after their home loss last week to Australia's Queensland Reds, leaving them top of the South African conference in the southern hemisphere competition, which has been expanded to 15 teams.

"It wasn't easy and the Lions have a proud record here," said Stormers captain Schalk Burger. "They had to chase the game but we hung tough." The visitors had to do without key winger Bryan Habana and regular flyhalf Peter Grant, a late withdrawal through injury. They then saw Grant's deputy, Gary van Aswegen, limp off after just 13 minutes.

But Cronje stepped in with aplomb, landing three penalties and two conversions to condemn the hosts to their eighth loss in nine matches.

The Stormers opened the scoring in the fifth minute through a long-range penalty by Van Aswegen, who was also instrumental in the build-up to their first try, scored by winger Danie Poolman after good running by center Juan de Jongh and Burger.

Scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage converted Poolman's try, then handed over the kicking reins to Cronje for a 19th-minute penalty that gave the Stormers a handy lead.

The Lions' opening points came from flyhalf Burton Francis via a 16th-minute drop goal and a 21st-minute penalty, which reduced the gap to seven points.

Cronje booted his second penalty on the half hour to open up a 10-point lead but the Lions scored their first try from the restart when Francis broke before handing to eighth man Warren Whiteley, who dived over under the posts.

But the home side's poor defense let them down again six minutes before the break when center Jaque Fourie ran through unopposed after a sweeping Stormers attack.

Francis added a second penalty after the break, which was canceled out by Cronje in the 53rd minute as play became increasingly scrappy in the wet conditions.

The Lions flyhalf, who began the season as third-choice behind Elton Jantjies and veteran Andre Pretorius, slotted a third penalty on the hour as the home side began to claw their way back into the game.

They trailed by seven points as the clock wound down but a last-ditch attack was snuffed out by replacement Stormers back Johann Sadie, who scooted through a gap to dive over under the posts and seal the win.

"We had a few opportunities but they didn't let us in," said Lions skipper Doppies la Grange. "All in all it was a much improved performance from our side."