The Stormers rebounded from their shock loss to the Western Force last week by snapping the Blues' resurgence with a 33-21 win in their Super 14 match on Saturday.
It was a complete turnaround by both sides as the Stormers responded positively to being beaten by the bottom-of-the-table Force, while the Blues failed to back up a week after beating competition leaders the Bulls.
With the strong emigrant South African population in Auckland giving the Stormers raucous vocal support they stunned the Blues from the outset and raced to a 20-0 lead inside 30 minutes.
Although the try-scoring was even at three apiece, the telling difference was the territory held by the Stormers and the 100 percent kicking record of flyhalf Peter Grant, who landed three conversions and four penalties.
The Stormers also benefited up front where Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and Andries Bekker led a pack that played with more intensity than the Blues and forced several crucial turnovers.
"I'm very, very pleased," a relieved Burger said after the final whistle.
"It was was important for us when we had the ball to get points because the Blues are so dangerous on attack and Peter (Grant) was pretty solid last week and this week and set phases were good as well."
The Blues were left to reflect on the inconsistency that keeps them out of the top four as they failed to continue the form that saw them take the Bulls apart.
"We can't afford to play up and down like this," a dejected Blues skipper Keven Mealamu said, adding his side were "really slow to capitalise on some opportunities we had particularly in the second half."
It was an aimless kick from Blues centre Rene Ranger that resulted in the Stormers' first try when Gio Aplon mounted a counter-attack from his own 22 and Jaque Fourie was on hand to finish off the movement.
A 15-metre forward drive produced a try to scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage and with Grant adding two penalties and two conversions the Stormers were up 20-0 before the Blues found the rhythm of the game.
Isaia Toeava and Joe Rokocoko teamed up to race 60 metres before loose forward Serge Lilo finished off the move with a try and Stephen Brett's conversion trimmed the Stormers' lead to 20-7 at halftime.
The Stormers resumed the pressure immediately after the resumption with another Grant penalty before both sides began a brief exchange of tries.
Luke McAlister scored first for the Blues before Anton van Zyl replied for the Stormers after the Blues lost a lineout throw, and from the kickoff Rokocoko started and finished a 70-metre movement.
At 21-30 and with 20 minutes to play, the Blues were still in the game but had few opportunities on attack while Grant was able to add another penalty to widen the gap.
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