HSBC Waratahs beat the Brumbies for 500th win
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Friday, 7 March 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
The HSBC Waratahs have scored two unanswered second half tries to record a come from behind 24-17 victory over the ACT Brumbies in front of 32,371 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Tah Patrol celebrates Tom Carter's try
The Tah Patrol celebrates Tom Carter's try
Kurtley Beale accelerates to set up Tom Carter
Kurtley Beale accelerates to set up Tom Carter
Lote Tuqiri equals Matt Burke in Super Rugby tries
Lote Tuqiri equals Matt Burke in Super Rugby tries
Dean Mumm charge-down try
Dean Mumm charge-down try
Luke Burgess pressures the Brumbies
Luke Burgess pressures the Brumbies
Diehard fans ... not even the big wet could keep them away
Diehard fans ... not even the big wet could keep them away
Rocky Elsom wins lineout ball
Rocky Elsom wins lineout ball
Alfi Mafi makes his run-on debut
Alfi Mafi makes his run-on debut
In front of more than 100 Waratahs Legends enjoying their alumni reunion, the result brought up win No.500 for NSW since their first ever victory over Queensland in 1882.
The keeps the Waratahs in the Super 14 top four, while the Brumbies head home from Sydney with a bonus point for the narrow loss.
After a perfect week of Sydney weather, the heavens opened just after kick-off and never abated with both sides forced to overcome monsoonal conditions at the SFS.
It was the Waratahs who had the better of the early going, and they were rewarded when Kurtley Beale set up the opening try of the match through Tom Carter after 22 minutes.
Not long after, Tyrone Smith was shown a yellow card for a high shot on Beale, with the No.10 calmly slotting the three-pointer.
However one-man down, the Brumbies came to life, and quickly worked a five metre scrum to the blindside for a try to replacement flanker Julian Salvi.
Mark Gerrard converted from the sideline, and with Smith still in the sin bin, he then nailed a penalty to tie the game up going into half time.
Both teams showed urgency to take the lead on the stroke of the break, however it was the Brumbies who came out on top, converting a Waratahs turnover into a Peter Playford try after the siren.
Gerrard's second sideline conversion saw the Brumbies run away with 17 points in nine minutes and a 17-10 buffer going into the break.
Given the conditions, a stroke of luck was always going to be a possibility of turning the match, and in the 48th minute it went the Waratahs way when a Christian Lealiifano pass went astray, and right into the arms of Lote Tuqiri.
The Waratahs flyer streaked away for 40m and touched down inches inside the dead ball line, with Beale's conversion levelling the scores.
The game continued to ebb and flow, with neither side able to turn possession or territory into points.
However all that changed when Lealiifano went on the attack, attempting a chip inside his own half.
Replacement lock Dean Mumm expertly charged down the kick, regathered, and outpaced the cover defence to score adjacent to the uprights and the Waratahs held a healthy 24-17 lead.
Both sides continued to push towards the finish, with Brumbies striving to tie the match up, while the Waratahs wanted a bonus point-gaining fourth try.
In the end though, the conditions proved too much for both sides, with the Waratahs recording their third victory of the 2008 Super 14 season.
It was also the third second half shutout in as many wins this season, with the Waratahs having conceded just eight points in their second halves this year.
Brumbies fullback Mark Gerrard was gallant in defeat, named HSBC Man of the Match.
The three tries to the Waratahs raised another $1500 for 'Score for Charity'. HSBC is donating $500 for every try scored, and $1000 for every fourth try scored by the Waratahs, to the Score for Charity program, which raises money for HSBCkids, the tutoring and mentoring program run by HSBC and children's charity Barnardos.
The Waratahs have the bye next week, before travelling to Christchurch to take on the Crusaders in round six.
HSBC Waratahs 24
Try: Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri, Dean Mumm
Conv: Kurtley Beale 3/3
Pens: Kurtley Beale 1/2, Lachie Turner 0/1
Brumbies 17
Try: Julian Salvi, Peter Playford
Conv: Mark Gerrard 2/2
Pen: Mark Gerrard 1/1
By the clock
5th - Kurtley Beale missed penalty
22nd - Tom Carter try; Kurtley Beale conversion. HSBC Waratahs 7 Brumbies 0
28th - Tyrone Smith yellow card
28th - Kurtley Beale penalty. HSBC Waratahs 10 Brumbies 0
31st - Julian Salvi try; Mark Gerrard conversion. HSBC Waratahs 10 Brumbies 7
37th - Mark Gerrard penalty. HSBC Waratahs 10 Brumbies 10
40th - Peter Playford try; Mark Gerrard conversion. HSBC Waratahs 10 Brumbies 17
Half Time - HSBC Waratahs 10 Brumbies 17
48th - Lote Tuqiri try; Kurtley Beale conversion. HSBC Waratahs 17 Brumbies 17
62nd - Dean Mumm try; Kurtley Beale conversion. HSBC Waratahs 24 Brumbies 17
77th - Lachie Turner missed penalty.
Full Time - HSBC Waratahs 24 Brumbies 17
HSBC Score for Charity Tally: 11 tries, $5500
HSBC is donating $500 for every try scored, and $1000 for every fourth try scored by the Waratahs, to the Score for Charity program, which raises money for HSBCkids, the tutoring and mentoring program run by HSBC and children's charity Barnardos.