Waratahs too strong for Brumbies
Waratahs winger Lachlan Turner took a cross kick on his finger tips then tiptoed for 20 metres just centimetres from the sideline, to help his side to a 19-12 victory over the Brumbies on Saturday.
Turner’s try, from a pinpoint Berrick Barnes kick, put the Waratahs 10 points in front, a lead they never relinquished to move to 33 points in a congested top half of the Super 14 table.
The Brumbies are on 27 and still have a slim chance of making the top four.
“It was tough, both teams were desperate out there,” Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said in a televised interview. “A lot was on the line and… it was very physical.”
In a stop-start match, Brumbies’ captain Stephen Hoiles became increasingly exasperated with an early heavy penalty count against his side.
Such was his frustration; Hoiles told referee Steve Walsh one of his decisions was a “rubbish call”. Walsh immediately penalised the number eight and advanced the ball 10 metres for back chat.
Waratahs flyhalf Daniel Halangahu capitalised, slotting three penalties to give the home side a 9-0 first-half lead before the Brumbies responded with three successive penalties by Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau.
Giteau’s third penalty, after the halftime hooter sounded, locked the score at 9-9 at the break.
Halangahu slotted his fourth penalty to give the home side a 12-9 lead before Turner produced his touchline magic to gather in Barnes’ cross kick and score under the posts.
Halangahu converted to give the Waratahs a 19-9 lead and while Giteau slotted his fourth penalty with 20 minutes remaining neither side troubled the scoreboard again.
“It was a real grind. Just a really disappointing game,” Hoiles said. “I was disappointed with the number of scrum penalties, that’s neither right or wrong but it does get boring when you waste 10 to 15 minutes… repacking scrums.”
Teams
Waratahs:
15. Kurtley Beale, 14. Lachlan Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Ben Mowen, 7. Phil Waugh (captain), 6. Dave Dennis, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Dean Mumm, 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16. Damian Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. William Caldwell, 19. Chris Alcock, 20. Joshua Holmes, 21. Tom Carter, 22. Sosene Anesi
Brumbies:
15. Julian Huxley, 14. Pat McCabe, 13. Andrew Smith, 12. Tyrone Smith, 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Josh Valentine, 8. Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7. Colby Faingaa, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Michael Chapman, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Alexander
Substitutes: 16. Huia Edmonds, 17. Guy Shepherdson, 18. Ben Hand, 19. Michael Hooper, 20. Patrick Phibbs, 21. Brackin Karauria-Henry, 22. Alfie Mafi
[Reuters]
Related Posts
« Hurricanes keep hopes alive with bonuspoint victory Bulls score bonus point victory over Lions »
