NSW Waratahs hold off Chiefs in Super Rugby trial
A Rob Horne hat-trick has helped the NSW Waratahs to see off a late surging Chiefs to win a 38-36 thriller at Campbelltown Stadium in front of 5103 fans in Sydney’s west on Friday night.
The match saw the return of Sonny Bill Williams to Rugby Union in Australia in the last hit out before the start of the Asteron Life Super Rugby season next week.
THE MATCH:
The NSW Waratahs continued the tradition of scoring early, with a try in the third minute of the match as the towering winger Taqele Naiyaravoro patiently received a well-timed off load from fullback Israel Folau to score in the corner.
Flyhalf Bernard Foley converted the try to take the score to 7-0.
The Hamilton based Chiefs countered quickly and forced NSW into an infringement at the breakdown that flyhalf Marty McKenzie took advantage of to score the first penalty of the match.
The NSW Waratahs backs countered almost immediately as Adam Ashley-Cooper and Rob Horne exposed the outside flanks with Horne running away for the Waratahs second try.
Momentum swung back towards the New Zealanders as a penalty and a try in the corner after some excellent work from McKenzie allowed Hosea Gear to score in the corner to take the score 14-11 in favour of the Waratahs.
Further infringements at the breakdown cost NSW on the scoreboard as McKenzie brought the scores level.
Buried deep in their half, the Chiefs scored a 70 metre try after a successful break from lock Michael Fitzgerald that the scrambling NSW defence was unable to cover. Bryce Heem finished the effort to score in the corner.
The Waratahs showed patience as the forwards powered the men in blue up the field with a series of hit ups and pop passes that marched the Chiefs defence backwards.
With the ball in hand the Waratahs’ backs capitalised, allowing Israel Folau to crash over in the corner levelling the scores with Foley’s conversion at 21-21.
As the momentum continued to see-saw between the two sides, the Chiefs quickly countered through the barnstorming New Zealand lock, Michael Fitzgerald. The Waratahs returned serve moments later through Rob Horne who received a floated inside pass from Foley to score his second try of the night to bring the score to 26-28 in favour of the Chiefs.
With half time dawning on them, NSW sent another attacking raid at the Chiefs defence with the towering Jacques Potgieter announcing his return to the Waratahs with a crash over try next to the posts. Bernard Foley added to the points tally to give the Waratahs the lead at halftime 33-28.
The second half saw the return of Sonny Bill Williams to Rugby in Australia as he entered the fray with a mouthwatering clash against Australia’s own Rugby giant, Israel Folau.
A motivated Chiefs outfit broke through the NSW lines in the opening minute with only a shirt grabbing tackle by an outstretched Nick Phipps saving a certain try against NSW.
Will Skelton was caught in an offside position as the Chiefs looked to play on quickly from an ensuing penalty, leaving referee Gardner no choice but to give him a yellow card and reduce NSW to 14 men in the 41st minute.
Damien McKenzie, brother to Marty converted the penalty from in front to bring the scores to 33-31.
In open play NSW started to dominate as the second half progressed with the Waratahs clearly bringing the attacking flair that they were famous for in 2014.
Sonny Bill Williams worked his way into the game slowly but made his presence known in a mammoth tackle on Kurtley Beale who was defenceless waiting for a highball in the 58th minute.
The Waratahs’ dominated possession as the second half continued making it difficult for the Chiefs to escape their half.
Foley broke through the line to set up the sixth try for NSW only to stumble and offload to winger Rob Horne who was gifted his hat-trick try to take the score to 38-31 in favour of the home team.
In the 64th minute a mistake by the Waratahs in attack in the centre of the field proved costly as Tevita Koloamatangi ran for the corner to score despite a late charge by Kurtley Beale to prevent the try.
With the conversion missed by McKenzie the younger, the Waratahs were left with five minutes to defend their lead of two points with the score at 38-36.
The Waratahs were penalized at the breakdown 45 metres out, giving Damien McKenzie an opportunity to give his side the lead just before the full time siren.
The crowd at Campbelltown stadium held its collective breath as the penalty went wide to allow NSW to win 38-36 with a week to go before the start of the Asteron Life Super Rugby season.
The NSW Waratahs take on the Western Force at Allianz stadium in the Round 1 Australian conference clash on Sunday 15 February at 4pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
NSW Waratahs 38 (Taqele Naiyaravoro, Rob Horne 3, Israel Folau, Jacques Potgieter tries; Bernard Foley 4 cons; pens;) defeated the Chiefs 36 (Hosea Gear, Bryce Heem, Michael Fitzgerald, Tevita Koloamatangi tries; Marty McKenzie 3 cons; Marty McKenzie 3, Damien McKenzie pens;)
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