Sun, Feb 14, 2010 page6

• Waratahs sink Reds with last-gasp try

  • AFP
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  New South Wales Waratahs shattered fierce rivals Queensland Reds with a converted try in the final minute to snatch a 30-28 Super 14 win in Brisbane yesterday.

  The Waratahs looked second best for virtually all of an emotional Australian derby at Lang Park, but clinched victory when Wycliff Palu plunged over for a try beneath the crossbar.

  Replacement back Daniel Halangahu potted the easy conversion on the final siren as the Waratahs claimed their sixth consecutive win over the Reds.

  It was poor reward for the Reds, who led from the 21st minute and had outscored the Waratahs three tries to two, only to come away with a losing bonus point.

  Queensland, who have finished in Super rugby’s bottom three for the last six seasons, look a more committed unit under new coach and former Waratahs’ mentor Ewen McKenzie, but they let slip a 10-point lead with seven minutes left.

  The Reds had looked primed for victory before 22,000 home fans after tries to New Zealand flanker Daniel Braid, Horwill and a penalty try to Wallaby scrum-half Will Genia.

  But indiscretions and weariness opened the door for the Waratahs, who kept chipping away with tries to replacement winger Rory Sidey and Palu to seal their come-from-behind win.

  The scene was set for a fierce encounter when the local fans booed former Reds favorite Berrick Barnes every time he touched the ball in the willing opening exchanges.

  Horwill was involved at one stage in an ugly prolonged on-ground wrestle with Barnes, his Reds vice-captain last year but now making his Waratahs Super 14 debut.

  Queensland’s Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper was a dominant figure for much of the match with his inventive running and kicking.

  Cooper landed two conversions, two penalty goals and a drop goal, while Barnes kicked four penalties and a drop goal.

  The Waratahs made the most of their scrum and lineout dominance, particularly in the second half as the tiring Reds failed to retain possession.

  The Canterbury Crusaders launched their Super 14 campaign with a trademark storming finish to secure a bonus point 32-17 win over the Otago Highlanders in Christchurch yesterday.

  Highlanders replacement flyhalf Michael Hobbs had single-handedly lifted his side to within one point of the Crusaders with 12 minutes to play before the red-and-blacks burst clear with two late tries.

  The Crusaders had produced a withering start to the game to be up 10-0 inside the first quarter.

  But once the Highlanders had absorbed the opening onslaught they began to dictate terms, and an upset seemed possible when they trailed just 17-18 before being shut out of the game.

  The Crusaders kept the Highlanders pinned deep in their own territory in the first 20 minutes but constant backline forays brought no reward and the first try came when they kept the ball in close letting the forwards build the pressure before Andy Ellis dived over.

  Dan Carter converted to add to an earlier penalty and the Crusaders were 10-0 up.

  They extended the lead to 15-0 early in the second half when a wayward pass bounced off the knee of Jared Payne, who was able to toe the ball over the line to score.

  But the next 20 minutes belonged to Hobbs as he scored two tries for the Highlanders.

  Hobbs also added two conversions and a penalty to the Crusaders’ offering of another Carter penalty, and the Cantabrians’ lead looked tenuous at 18-17.

  But as has happened so often in the past, the Crusaders found another gear in the closing stages of the game.

  Sean Maitland started the revival when he read a Hobbs clearing kick and started a counterattack which ended with off-season signing Zac Guilford scoring.

  With time on the clock Maitland scored himself when he gathered up the loose ball and scampered 20m to the line.

  Meanwhile, Northern Bulls defeated Central Cheetahs 51-34 on Friday.

  “We displayed a lot of character, experience and calmness after the Cheetahs scored a try so early in a very quick game and it was a good win,” boasted Bulls skipper and Springbok lock Victor Matfield.

  Opposite number, flanker and fellow Springbok Juan Smith countered: “We hit back well in the second half through two tries within a few minutes, but it was not enough in the end.”
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