The HSBC Waratahs have suffered their first defeat of the 2009 Super 14 campaign, going down to the Brumbies 21-11 at Canberra Stadium tonight.
The HSBC Waratahs have suffered their first defeat of the 2009 Super 14 campaign, going down to the Brumbies 21-11 at Canberra Stadium tonight.
The Brumbies scored two tries to one in a hard-fought encounter which typified the match's local derby status.
Mark Gerrard opened the scoring in the tenth minute with a penalty goal, however Kurtley Beale's attempt to level the scores at the 21-minute mark hit the woodwork before bouncing away.
The match continued to be an arm wrestle for the next ten minutes, however when the Brumbies started to roll forward inside the NSW quarter, referee Mark Lawrence ruled that Wycliff Palu deliberately joined the ruck from the side and issued a yellow card. Gerrard slotted the penalty from in front to double the margin.
Almost immediately the Brumbies were penalised for a similar offence in similar position, however Beale again hit the upright with five minutes remaining in the first half.
Beale missed another attempt shortly after but piloted a three-pointer after the bell to leave the Brumbies with a 6-3 lead at the break.
The home side made the perfect start after half-time, turning the ball over inside their own half and maintaining possession down the field to score through Adam Ashley-Cooper.
The home side suffered two injury blows soon after, with Stephen Hoiles and Mark Chisholm both forced to leave the field. Not long after Beale kicked his second penalty of the night to narrow the score to 11-6.
Northern Suburbs prop Ben Alexander crashed over from short range in the 63rd minute, and when Gerrard converted from close in the margin extended to 12 points.
A 75th minute penalty goal put the Brumbies out of reach, however the HSBC Waratahs did manage to cross in the dying minutes through Lachie Turner.
The team heads back to Sydney tomorrow to begin preparations for next Saturday's Super 14 Final replay against the Crusaders at ANZ Stadium.
* The HSBC Junior Waratahs play the Brumby Runners tomorrow afternoon at Viking Park, Canberra.
Brumbies 21 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Alexander tries; Mark Gerrard 3 pens, con) d HSBC Waratahs 11 (Lachie Turner try; Kurtley Beale 2 pens) at Canberra Stadium. Half-time: Brumbies 6-3. Referee: Mark Lawrence (RSA). Crowd: 21,594.
By the clock
10th minute - Mark Gerrard penalty goal. Brumbies 3-0
21st minute - Kurtley Beale missed penalty goal.
32nd minute - Wycliff Palu yellow card.
33rd minute - Mark Gerrard penalty goal. Brumbies 6-0
35th minute - Kurtley Beale missed penalty goal.
39th minute - Kurtley Beale missed penalty goal.
40th+ minute - Kurtley Beale penalty goal. Brumbies 6-3
45th minute - Adam Ashley-Cooper try; Mark Gerrard missed conversion. Brumbies 11-3
50th minute - Kurtley Beale penalty goal. Brumbies 11-6
63rd minute - Ben Alexander try; Mark Gerrard conversion. Brumbies 18-6
75th minute - Mark Gerrard penalty goal. Brumbies 21-6
77th minute - Lachie Turner try; Daniel Halangahu missed conversion. Brumbies 21-11
Teams
Brumbies: 1. Nic Henderson (Southern Districts), 2. Stephen Moore (University), 3. Salesi Ma'afu (Warringah); 4. Ben Hand (Eastwood), 5. Mark Chisholm (Tuggeranong); 6. Peter Kimlin (Western Districts), 7. George Smith (Manly), 8. Stephen Hoiles (Randwick); 9. Josh Holmes (Eastwood), 10. Christian Lealiifano (Tuggeranong); 11. Francis Fainifo (Tuggeranong), 12. Tyrone Smith (Manly), 13. Stirling Mortlock [c] (Gordon), 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs); 15. Mark Gerrard (Warringah). Reserves: 16. Huia Edmonds (Warringah), 17. Ben Alexander (Northern Suburbs), 18. Stialeki Timani (Warringah), 19. Julian Salvi (Tuggeranong), 20. Patrick Phibbs (Randwick), 21. Matt Toomua (Eastern Suburbs), 22. Clyde Rathbone (TBA).
HSBC Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson (Eastwood), 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta), 3. Dan Palmer (Southern Districts); 4. Chris Thomson (Warringah), 5. Will Caldwell (Sydney University); 6. Dean Mumm (Sydney University), 7. Phil Waugh [c] (Sydney University), 8. Wycliff Palu (Manly); 9. Luke Burgess (Sydney University), 10. Kurtley Beale (Northern Suburbs); 11. Lote Tuqiri (West Harbour), 12. Timana Tahu (West Harbour), 13. Rob Horne (Southern Districts), 14. Lachie Turner (Eastwood); 15. Sam Norton-Knight (Northern Suburbs). Reserves: 16. Adam Freier (Randwick), 17. Jeremy Tilse (Sydney University), 18. Luke Doherty (Manly), 19. Ben Mowen (Randwick), 20. Brett Sheehan (Warringah), 21. Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University), 22. Tom Carter (Sydney University).