A final-quarter flourish breathed some life into a joyless encounter in wind and rain at Newlands on Saturday as the Stormers beat the Kings 19-11.

It was a key win for the Stormers and put all the pressure on the Kings to avoid taking the wooden spoon among the South African sides in their first year in the competition.

Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen landed two penalty goals by the 10-minute mark but within five minutes Kings fly-half George Whitehead, who got the start after Demetri Catrakilis withdrew late, landed a penalty goal for the visitors.

Another penalty goal each was exchanged in the third quarter but flanker Deon Fourie broke the try-scoring deadlock after the Stormers finally succeeded with a rolling maul from a lineout to score after 63 minutes.

However, the Kings responded in kind late in the game when flanker Wimpie van der Walt went over, also from a maul. A loser's bonus point was denied when the conversion attempt missed.

The Stormers did have a late scare as they tried to escape from behind their goal-line courtesy of a quick lineout throw by wing Bryan Habana, but the defence held and the home side held on for victory.