The Stormers posted their first Super Rugby win in a chilly Canberra with a 16-3 triumph against the Brumbies on Saturday.

The visitors scored one try to nil in a defensive match for their 10th win of the year, a result that also inflicted the home side's record 10th loss in a season.

Stormers captain Schalk Burger was immense in defence along with his hit ups, while 208cm lock Andries Bekker was a pest in the line-out, stealing several throws to keep the Cape Town side on top of the South African conference.

The win was the Stormers' first in seven matches in Canberra, meaning they join the Reds and Lions this season in posting their maiden victories in Australia's capital, in a year to forget for the Brumbies.

Defeat for the Brumbies means the two-time Super Rugby winners have gone winless against all South African opponents for the first time in a season.

The home side started on the back foot before the match with captain Matt Giteau ruled out due to illness, Matt Toomua replacing the Wallaby at five-eighth.

Giteau's replacement as captain, hooker Stephen Moore, led the side from the front with Henry Speight making several bursts on the right.

But handling, poor passing and a lack of continuity have blighted the Brumbies during 2011.

The visitors started the scoring in the second half with flanker Francis Louw crossing the line just to the left of the posts following a drive from a lineout in the 45th minute.

The Stormers went into half-time ahead 6-3 in a period where handling and discipline let down both sides.

A Christian Lealiifano penalty put the home side ahead in the 10th minute before Stormers five-eighth Kurt Coleman levelled the score 15 minutes later.

Coleman put the visitors ahead three minutes before the break with his second penalty.

Brumbies coach Tony Rea said his side placed much pressure on the Stormers but the visitors showed why they are travelling well this season.

"They absorbed a fair bit of us, they handled pretty well," Rea said.

"They have to take credit for that, it is something they have done all season in keeping teams at bay."

Rea said his side did not profit from the opportunities presented.

"We knew they would only present us with a couple of opportunities, and we weren't good enough to take them," he said.

"... some of the skills fundamentally let us down."

Moore said the players' execution cost the side dearly.

"I was very proud of the effort there and but it is not enough to win these games," he said.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said he was "very satisfied" with his side's win.

"They really put us under pressure with the ball at times but our defence once again held firm," Coetzee said.

Burger admitted the match wasn't the most attractive for the 10,311 spectators at Canberra Stadium.

"We came out with intentions to keep the ball in hand through the phases but after a while we found it pretty difficult, pretty slippery," Burger said.

"Then we started playing a bit more territory in the second half.

"We have been coming here for a long, long time and we have come close before but we haven't been able to get a win.

"It's fantastic to get our first win in Canberra."

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