The Stormers went top of the Super Rugby standings Friday after an impressive performance by flyhalf Peter Grant led them to a 23-13 victory over the defending champions Queensland Reds here. The Reds enjoyed plenty of ball at Suncorp Stadium but were smothered by a stiff Stormers defense who rebounded from last week's loss to the Crusaders to make it seven wins from eight games this year. The two-try win moved them ahead of the Waikato Chiefs, who can return to the summit when they play away to the Sharks Saturday. Queensland are second in the Australian Conference after their fourth defeat in eight matches. The Otago Highlanders, meanwhile, heaped more pressure on Auckland coach Pat Lam by beating the Blues 30-27 in a scrappy Super Rugby clash in Dunedin that was dominated by the kickers. Highlanders flyhalf Mike Delaney kicked six penalties and a conversion and the home side crossed for two tries to claim their sixth win of the season and close the gap on the New Zealand Conference leaders, Waikato Chiefs. The Blues showed a much more spirited performance than in recent weeks and started brightly as they looked to end a run of four consecutive defeats. Rookie fullback Hadleigh Parkes put the Blues ahead in the fourth minute after the Highlanders, looking rusty after coming off a bye week, gifted away possession in their own 22. Center Shaun Treeby fumbled a pass from scrumhalf Aaron Smith and the Blues moved the ball wide for Parkes to cross in the corner. “It was probably the exact opposite of how we wanted to start. We knew if we gave them a start they would be in it for the whole game,” Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said in a pitchside interview. Treeby did not dwell on the mistake and he was on hand to dart clear for the Highlanders opening try eight minutes later after Delaney started the move with an exceptional reverse pass. Both sides were then guilty of ill-discipline as the match turned into a kicking duel with Delaney and Blues' flyhalf Gareth Anscombe trading efforts as the home side went in at halftime 16-14 ahead.
