Bonus point win as HSBC Waratahs run down the Blues
» Back to News Listing
Saturday, 27 March 2010
NSWRU Media Unit
The HSBC Waratahs have come from behind late in the game to score a 39-32 victory over the Blues at the Sydney Football Stadium, maintaining their position in the Super 14 top four.
Full time... and victory!
Full time... and victory! [2010 Super 14 Round 7 - HSBC Waratahs v Blues; Sydney Football Stadium; 27/3/10]
Skins Man of the Match Daniel Halangahu scores the first of two tries on his way to 24 points.
Skins Man of the Match Daniel Halangahu scores the first of two tries on his way to 24 points. [2010 Super 14 Round 7 - HSBC Waratahs v Blues; Sydney Football Stadium; 27/3/10]
Lachie Turner streaks away for a 95-metre intercept try.
Lachie Turner streaks away for a 95-metre intercept try. [2010 Super 14 Round 7 - HSBC Waratahs v Blues; Sydney Football Stadium; 27/3/10]
Dave Dennis does the hard yards.
Dave Dennis does the hard yards. [2010 Super 14 Round 7 - HSBC Waratahs v Blues; Sydney Football Stadium; 27/3/10]
Dean Mumm breaks down the middle of the field.
Dean Mumm breaks down the middle of the field. [2010 Super 14 Round 7 - HSBC Waratahs v Blues; Sydney Football Stadium; 27/3/10]
Berrick Barnes is hit late.
Berrick Barnes is hit late. [2010 Super 14 Round 7 - HSBC Waratahs v Blues; Sydney Football Stadium; 27/3/10]
The Tahs started with a rush to lead 14-0 after just nine minutes, however the Blues hit back with the next three tries to hold a five-point lead with 30 minutes remaining.
However NSW edged their way back into the game, and when Lachie Turner scored an all-or-nothing length of the field try in the 72nd minute the hosts held on for an impressive bonus point victory.
Daniel Halangahu was voted the Skins Man of the Match on the back of a commanding midfield performance and a 24-point haul from two tries, four conversions and two penalties.
The HSBC Waratahs opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a great break down the left flank that included interplay with four forwards. After a few settling phases, Dean Mumm took the ball one pass of the ruck and fended away Serge Lilo to score under the posts.
Shortly after the Tahs found themselves deep in Blues territory, and while Mumm was denied a second from a good goal-line tackle, a penalty from the ensuing ruck allowed the home side to take a quick tap and put Daniel Halangahu over next to the upright.
The Blues hit back in the 13th minute through a try to Rudi Wulf who bumped off a big attempt at tackle by Drew Mitchell to score. Stephen Brett's conversion took the score to 14-7.
The Tahs were next on the board and it was after showing a willingness to run the ball which the 20,413-strong crowd was pleased to see. After back-to-back penalties had the Tahs in kicking position, they opted for the lineout and after a number of phases put the ball through the hands with Halangahu showing another good piece of footwork to score under the dot.
Six minutes from half-time the Blues closed the gap after a good backline execution saw Rudi Wulf offload just before being driven into touch with Isaia Toeava scoring out wide. Brett's conversion attempt hit the left upright and bounced away leaving the score at 21-12.
The margin closed even further just before the break when after a close range penalty the Blues moved it towards the posts and Rene Ranger crossed. Brett's conversion brought the half-time margin to just two points.
With Wycliff Palu replaced at half-time, the Tahs suffered another blow just 90 seconds into the second forty when captain Phil Waugh was forced from the field with a leg injury. The Blues compounded the injury woes ten minutes in when Ranger crossed for his second after the visitors' dominated field position.
Halangahu kept his tally ticking over four minutes later to reduce the margin to two, however the Tahs conceded a penalty two phases after the kick-off giving Brett the opportunity to restore the five-point lead.
In the 59th minute, and just after Berrick Barnes and Al Baxter had left the field, a move at the front of the lineout saw the ball returned to Tatafu Polota-Nau who sprinted 20 metres and ploughed over the top of Wulf to score the fourth NSW try. Halangahu's sideline attempted was just wide leaving the scores tied at 29-all with 20 minutes remaining.
The Blues edged ahead in the 63rd minute with Brett's second penalty of the night, and looked headed to seal the win in the 72nd minute with a big overlap. However Lachie Turner chanced his arm five metres off his own line and went for the intercept which came off, running 95m to score under the posts. Halangahu's conversion pushed the Tahs to a 36-32 lead and a grandstand finish.
Mumm made a midfield break shortly after the restart, and when the Blues were ruled offside inside their own 22, Halangahu kicked the penalty to take the margin to seven.
The Blues had their chances as the clock wound down, however NSW were able to hold on and clear the ball into touch after the siren sounded.
The victory moves the Tahs to 23 competition points and maintains fourth position on Super 14 ladder. The HSBC Waratahs return to the Sydney Football Stadium on next Saturday to play the Cheetahs.
HSBC Waratahs 39 (Daniel Halangahu 2, Dean Mumm, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Lachie Turner tries; Daniel Halangahu 4 cons, 2 pens) d Blues 32 (Rene Ranger 2, Rudi Wulf, Isaia Toeava tries; Stephen Brett 3 cons, 2 pens) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Garratt Williamson. Crowd: 20,413. Skins Man of the Match: Daniel Halangahu (HSBC Waratahs).
By the clock
4th - Dean Mumm try; Daniel Halangahu conversion. HSBC Waratahs 7-0
8th - Daniel Halangahu try; Daniel Halangahu conversion. HSBC Waratahs 14-0
13th - Rudi Wulf try; Stephen Brett conversion. HSBC Waratahs 14-7.
19th - Daniel Halangahu try; Daniel Halangahu conversion. HSBC Waratahs 21-7
34th - Isaia Toeava try; Stephen Brett missed conversion. HSBC Waratahs 21-12
39th - Rene Ranger try; Stephen Brett conversion. HSBC Waratahs 21-19
50th - Rene Ranger try; Stephen Brett conversion. Blues 26-21
54th - Daniel Halangahu penalty goal. Blues 26-24
56th - Stephen Brett penalty goal. Blues 29-24
59th - Tatafu Polota-Nau try; Daniel Halangahu missed conversion. 29-all.
63rd - Stephen Brett penalty goal. Blues 32-29
72nd - Lachie Turner try; Daniel Halangahu conversion. HSBC Waratahs 36-32
76th - Daniel Halangahu penalty goal. HSBC Waratahs 39-32.