The Stormers have claimed their first ever victory in the ACT after grinding out a 16-3 win in frosty conditions at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Skipper Matt Giteau was ruled out on Saturday morning with an infected tooth, leaving Stephen Moore to lead the side.
Moore was once again brilliant, earning the man of the match and Charles Anderson medal, an award given annually to the best on field in the Stormers v Brumbies fixture.
But despite his never-say-die attitude, which at one stage forced the Stormers to withstand 30 phases on their own line, the ACT team could not deliver the killer blow.
The Stormers defence was gap proof from kick-off to final whistle.
And while several opportunities and breaks in play did present themselves throughout the match, mistakes crept in making it impossible to gain parity with the South African competition leaders.
The CA Technologies Brumbies hit the lead early through the boot of Christian Lealiifano, the inside centre guiding the ball through the posts from 40m out to give his side an early advantage.
Lealiifano was among the CA Technologies Brumbies best, until he suffered a head knock early in the second half and had to be replaced.
Two get out of jail moments followed early for the ACT based team, with Jaque Fourie being penalised and having his would-be try disallowed for pushing on his way to the tryline, before Josh Valentine went full stretch with a text-book try saver on Gio Aplon.
The Stormers looked to be on the back foot for the opening 20 minutes with the CA Technologies Brumbies winning the glut of possession.
But turning that possession into points proved more difficult, the Stormers carrying a slender lead into half time 6-3.
The Stormers came from the shed looking for more possession in the second half with that ambition being fulfilled in the first few minutes through a try to Francois Louw.
Louw’s try pushed the Stormers lead out to 10 points, but the South African outfit were lucky to hold that advantage.
The CA Technologies Brumbies made more line-breaks, held better field position for the most part looked the better team, but much like previous weeks in 2011 could not manage to turn those situations into points.
Another penalty goal in the 70th minute to Gio Aplon moved the Stormers to a 13-point lead, the CA Technologies Brumbies unable to claw back the difference.
Stormers 16 (F Louw try; K Coleman con, 2 pens; G Aplon pen) bt CA Technologies Brumbies 3 (C Lealiifano pen)
Crowd: 10,311.
Referee Marius Jonker
CA Technologies Brumbies
1. Jono Owen (replaced by Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 37th minute)
2. Stephen Moore (replaced by Anthony Hegarty, 77th minute)
3. Ben Alexander
4. Ben Hand (replaced by Peter Kimlin, 66th minute)
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Mitch Chapman
7. Julian Salvi (replaced by Julian Salvi, 73rd minute)
8. Ita Vaea
9. Josh Valentine (replaced by Patrick Phibbs, 60th minute)
10. Matt Toomua
11. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Christian Lealiifano (replaced by Robbie Coleman, 50th minute)
13. Tyrone Smith
14. Henry Speight
15. Pat McCabe
Replacements
16. Anthony Hegarty
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Peter Kimlin
19. Michael Hooper
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Andrew Smith
22. Robbie Coleman
