The New South Wales Waratahs defended furiously to shut down the Queensland Reds’ attacking machine and march to an emphatic 30-6 victory in their Super rugby match in Sydney yesterday.
The Waratahs charged to an 11-0 lead within 10 minutes and scored two tries after the break to notch their seventh straight win over their archrivals on a breezy night at the Olympic Stadium.
The Reds, whose Wallaby playmakers Will Genia and Quade Cooper were subdued for much of the contest, lifted their intensity in the final quarter, but any promising drives were halted at the 22-yard line by a fumble or tackle.
The Reds’ woes were further compounded by an ankle injury to captain James Horwill, who hobbled off the field in the first half, while lock Ben Daley came off clutching his hand after the break.
The Waratahs charged out of the blocks, with marauding backs Drew Mitchell and Kurtley Beale proving a handful for the Reds’ defense.
The pair each scored a brace against the Rebels and combined for the Waratahs’ first try in the 10th minute. Enterprising fullback Beale burned through the middle after tapping a penalty-kick to himself, then received a pass back from No. 8 Ben Mowen, before offloading to winger Mitchell, who dashed over the line in the left corner.
Horwill left the field 10 minutes before the break and minutes later the Reds allowed Dave Dennis to cross for an easy try, the flanker sharking the ball from the front of a lineout.
Cooper slotted a penalty at the halftime whistle to trim the deficit to 16-6.
The flyhalf’s second penalty goal was to be the last Reds score, however, while winger Lachie Turner eased the pressure nine minutes after the break after crossing for the Waratahs’ third try. Benn Robinson came off the bench to clinch a bonus point with a fourth try in the 64th minute.
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