Waratahs see off Brumbies in final trial
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:51
The Waratahs laid down a big market when they recorded a 15-7 victory over the Brumbies in their third and final Super 14 pre-season match at Viking Park in Canberra on Thursday.
With Benn Robinson and Dean Mumm returning for their first matches in 2010, the NSW forward pack dominated from the outset to hold the upper hand at the scrum contest and consistently stealing the Brumbies line-out ball.
It was from a set piece that the Tahs drew first blood in the tenth minute with a driving maul from a five-metre line-out resulting in a try to captain Phil Waugh.
However the lead was short-lived with the Brumbies counterattacking through Randwick wing Francis Fainifo, before the speedster linked with Northern Suburbs fullback Adam Ashley Cooper to tie the scores.
Gordon's Stirling Mortlock converted for a 7-5 lead to the home side.
The fight for field position continued to be hard-fought, and in the seventh minute of the second quarter Berrick Barnes slotted a penalty to edge the Tahs in front by one, which is how the score remained until half-time.
Late inclusion Kurtley Beale came on after half-time and immediately had an impact with a scything run through the middle of the field before a sequence of interchange passing was halted by the Brumbies defence.
Coach Chris Hickey consistently started ringing the changes in the third quarter and it was two replacements that linked for the visitors' second try - with Peter Betham beating three defenders on a kick return before drawing the last defender and passing to Josh Holmes to score.
Daniel Halangahu added the extras for an eight-point lead.
The Brumbies continued to apply pressure in the last quarter against a relatively inexperienced NSW lineup, however the Tahs held firm right to the final whistle to record a 15-7 victory.
The squad returns to Sydney on Friday before preparing for their opening round encounter with the Queensland Reds on Saturday 13 February in Brisbane.
The scorers:
For the Brumbies:
Try: Ashley-Cooper
Con: Mortlock
For the Waratahs:
Tries: Waugh, Holmes
Con: Halangahu
Pen: Barnes
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Daniel Halangahu, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Cam Jowitt, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements - from: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Hendrik Roodt, Chris Thomson, Brendan KcKibbin, Ben Seymour, Locky McCaffrey, Dan Palmer, Ben Mowen, Josh Holmes, Alex Rokobaro, Dave Dennis, Rory Sidey, Peter Betham, Adam D'Arcy.
Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Alfi Mafi, 13
Stirling Mortlock, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Salesi Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 John Ulugia, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Henry Vanderglas, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Referee: Steve Walsh
Assistant referees: Nathan Pearce, Andrew Crozier
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