The Blues remain winless after falling to their second straight defeat of the Super Rugby season and captain Jerome Kaino concedes ill-discipline was their undoing.
Hayden Triggs of the Blues receives a red card. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Blues lock Hayden Triggs was sent off for punching in the 25th minute of Sunday morning's 27-16 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town, leaving the visitors with just 14 men for the majority of the match.
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Kaino says the red card and second half penalties killed off the visitors' chances.
South Africa's Stormers made it two wins from their first two games to join the Hurricanes and Chiefs at the top of the table.
The Blues played for 55 minutes with 14 men after Triggs was red-carded for landing a punch to the face of home No.8 Duane Vermeulen in an off-the-ball incident.
The dismissal came with the Blues trailing by two points after an early try from Stormers halfback Nic Groom and the home side added a second score before half-time through winger Dillyn Leyds to go into the break leading 18-6.
The Blues halfback Jimmy Cowan scored five minutes after the re-start following a fine break from fullback Charles Piutau to keep the visitors' chances alive.
However the Stormers first-five Demetri Catrakilis, who kicked four penalties and a conversion, kept his side comfortably ahead as the Blues' energy waned in the final 10 minutes, and the home team closed out the match.
The Blues' remaining points came from first-five Ihaia West who kicked three penalties and a conversion.
Also Sunday morning the Sharks beat the Lions 29-12 in Durban.