The Melbourne Rebels were their own worst enemy as they blew a chance to topple the Super Rugby finals-bound Stormers in a 57-31 loss at AAMI Park on Saturday night.The Stormers scored seven tries, claiming an all-important bonus point after the full-time siren through a try to reserve hooker Scarra Ntubeni while five-eighth Jean Luc du Plessis finished with 27 points.The Rebels held the fancied Stormers to 31-31 until the 61st minute when the South African teams halfback Nic Groom scrambled across the tryline from a scrum.Two minutes later it was effectively game over when Stormers centre Damian De Allende crossed, his side taking advantage of an overlap with the Rebels down a man after flanker Scott Fuglistaller was yellow-carded for collapsing a maul.Melbourne, in 12th place heading into the round, did well to be in the hunt for so long after gifting the Stormers five line-out turnovers and four scrum tight-heads with the South Africans asserting their authority at the set piece.The Rebels werent helped losing both their locks to concussion with Luke Jones, playing his last home game after signing to play in France, and Lopeti Timani, both departing in the first half.The home sides attacking plans were also upset when fullback Mike Harris was a late casualty after failing to recover from an ankle injury suffered late in the week.They were also without regular halfback and captain Nic Stirzaker, who suffered a similar injury on Tuesday although his replacement Ben Meehan performed well, scoring a first-half try.The Stormers held a 23-17 half-time lead but the Rebels drew first blood in the second half with a well-worked try to winger Jonah Placid.As was the story of their night however, they were penalised just a minute later to hand the lead back to the Stormers.Melbourne coach Tony McGahan said he was proud of the effort of his injury-ravaged team going up against the third-placed Stormers.To lose three key players during the week wasnt great and then to lose two locks and a man in the bin - all the things that were thrown at us to be 31-31 was a pretty good effort, McGahan said.They scored 24 points in the last 15 minutes ... we ran out of legs at the end but you couldnt deny the effort and spirit of what the players tried to do in difficult circumstances.McGahan couldnt tip the Stormers to end the recent New Zealand stranglehold on the competition, despite their impressive set piece and improved defence.Theyve got the game to do well and if they play at home early on, he said.Once you get to the finals anyones a chance but the New Zealand sides have been playing pretty well.It depends on travel so where sides meet within that finals series will be a key component. Air Max Scontate . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Air Max Scontate Zalando . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. http://www.scontateairmaxitalia.it/ . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Air Max Saldi . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Nike Air Max Outlet Online Italia . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Smith huddled with Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy in front of his locker, not more than 15 minutes after Kansas City had beaten the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.If they were already dissecting his performance, they werent going to find many faults.Smith threw two touchdown passes in another calm, efficient outing, and Daniel Sorensen returned an interception of Drew Brees for another score as the Chiefs held on for a 27-21 victory.Everybody trusts Alex, man. Alex is a pro, said Tyreek Hill, who made an acrobatic 38-yard TD catch to help the Chiefs (4-2) win their ninth consecutive home game. Hes good. Hes the truth.Smith was helped by another big game from Spencer Ware, the one-time fill-in for Jamaal Charles whos become a star. He had 77 yards rushing to go with a 46-yard TD catch.He runs with a lot of physicality and determination, but a lot of agility, Smith said. Hes a good mix and I think you just see a guy who has great vision.Brees tried to rally the Saints (2-4) once again, pulling them within 24-21 on a touchdown pass to Brandon Coleman with 2:33 left. But the ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, Kansas City added a field goal and the Saints could do nothing in the final 28 seconds to change the outcome.Brees finished with 367 yards and three TD passes, and became the first player with 100 games with at least 300 yards passing. But much of that offense came while he was trying to rally his team. It was another uneven performance away from the Superdome for the New Orleans quarterback, who was coming off a 465-yard game last week against Carolina.Listen, weve set the bar pretty high at home, havent we? We cant expect 500 yards on the road, he said. Its what home-field advantage is, right? We can definitely execute better though.Meanwhile, the Chiefs showed some moxie after falling into an early 7-0 hole.Wares touchdown on a screen pass and Sorensens pick-six off a batted ball quickly turned the momentum, and Hill added his long touchdown reception to make it 21-7 at the break.The Saints drew within a touchdown on Mark Ingrams catch midway through the third quarter, but the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner fuumbled inside the Kansas City 10 with 8:26 left in the game.ddddddddddddThats just everybody flying to the ball, said the Chiefs Marcus Peters, who recovered it.The fumble with the Chiefs leading 24-14 proved to be pivotal. New Orleans got the ball back and eventually scored, but the extra time it took may have cost them a chance to win the game.You play a good team on the road, penalties and turnovers, they can really do you in, Saints coach Sean Payton said. Interception return for a touchdown on third-and-long, fumble in the red zone and were not a good enough team to overcome some of those mistakes.LOTS OF LAUNDRYThe Saints struggled with the crowd noise in Arrowhead Stadium, getting flagged for four false starts and a delay of game. They also got hit with two unnecessary roughness penalties, including one with just over two minutes left that kept them from getting the ball back. With a veteran quarterback like that, you dont really expect it, Chiefs safety Eric Berry said.BETTER DEFENSEThe Saints defense voluntarily skipped their day off Monday to review video, and it seemed to pay off. One of the leagues worst defenses held Kansas City to just 326 yards of total offense.REID ROLLS 300The Chiefs Andy Reid coached his 300th game Sunday. Most of those were over his 14 seasons in Philadelphia, where he was 140-102-1. He is now 36-21 in his fourth season in Kansas City.INJURY REPORTSaints: LB Dannell Ellerbe (quad), LB Stephone Anthony (hamstring) and CB Delvin Breaux (broken leg) left New Orleans without three defensive starters, while starting LG Andrus Peat (groin) was also out. Backup LG Senio Kelemete later left with a stinger, forcing Tim Lelito into the lineup.Chiefs: Starting CB Phillip Gaines (knee) was inactive, while Charles (knee swelling) was active in a limited role . He had just one carry early in the game. Things were going OK so I just let him ride there, Reid said. Im trying to be as careful as I can with him in my ear wanting to play.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '