Waratahs Home and Hosed for Super Finals After
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SUNDAY JUNE 14 2015 SPORT 71 Waratahs home and hosed for Super finals after demolition of Reds RUSSELL JACKSON based Stormers from the top- errors saw the home side lead- soon after when Jacques Potgi- Quade Cooper scored a late WARATAHS two race. ing 3-0. eter opened his account for the consolation try when he re- 31 THE NSW Waratahs have se- Michael Cheika’s side came The game opened up on 50 season. Foley was again the gathered his grubbing kick to cured a week off and a home into the match leading the minutes following the sin-bin- provider soon for replacement score in the corner. REDS semi-final with a 31-5 win over Stormers by two points on the ning of Reds flanker Adam halfback Brendan McKibbin. The loss is sure to pile more 5 the Queensland Reds last ladder and a loss against the Thomson, with the Waratahs Popular replacement lock pressure on Reds coach Rich- NSW WARATAHS night at Allianz Stadium. Reds would have given the scoring a try soon after when Dean Mumm sent the crowd of ard Graham, who lost James Tries: D Dennis, B McKibbin, D Having won the Australian South Africans a shot at bump- skipper Dave Dennis crashed 26,746 wild when he scored the O’Connor and James Slipper Mumm, J Potgieter Conversions: B Foley 4 conference before kickoff after ing them from second spot. over for his first try of the sea- final try of the game. to injury on a night the Reds Penalty Goals: B Foley the Brumbies’ earlier loss to The Waratahs came to life son after five-eighth Bernard Mumm was playing his first said goodbye to stalwarts Will QUEENSLAND REDS the Crusaders, the Waratahs in the second half after a Foley provided a great ball. game in Sydney after three Genia and James Horwill, who Tries: Q Cooper needed to beat the Reds to dreadful opening 40 minutes The Super Rugby champi- years playing in England and will continue their careers Crowd: 26,746 at Allianz Stadium eliminate the Cape Town- punctuated by penalties and ons had another five-pointer crashed over from close range. overseas. Referee: N Briant Brumbies bummer THE Brumbies’ hopes of a top-two finish are over, after losing 37-24 to the Crusaders in the final round of the Super Rugby season. Needing a win for the chance to overtake the Waratahs on top of the Austra- lian conference, the Canberra- based outfit couldn’t withhold the might of their New Zea- land rivals at GIO Stadium in front of a 18,378 fans yesterday. A first-half brace to giant winger Nemani Nadolo helped ensure the Crusaders sent off All Black legends Richie McCaw and Dan Carter win- ners in their last Super Rugby appearance. The Brumbies were without David Pocock for the entire second half after he failed a concussion test, and were reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Jesse Mogg shortly after the break. While the Brumbies remain equal on points with the Waratahs ahead of their clash with the Reds last night, one less wins means conference honours will remain with the Waratahs. Rebels exposed MELBOURNE Rebels coach Tony McGahan concedes his side have a lot of work to do as they search for a maiden Super Rugby finals berth. The Rebels’ fifth season was their most successful, with the club grabbing seven wins and roll- ing every Australian side ex- cept the Waratahs. However, Friday night’s 13-11 loss to the Bobby Nurse dives over to score one of his two tries for Casuarina during last night’s NTRU premiership clash against South Darwin at Rugby Park Picture: ELISE DERWIN Western Force at AAMI Park was a stark reminder of two is- sues that hampered the Rebels in 2015 – their trouble winning despite a glut of possession and their problems winning when they’re expected to. Cougars claw out tight McGahan was furious to end the season on such a low note. It was the last Rebels game for outgoing captain Scott Hig- ginbotham, a Wallabies back- rower, who will join Japanese club NEC Green Rockets after victory over Rabbitohs the World Cup. Mealamu’s blues BRIAN ANDERSON Nathan Satala added the advantage and when the Bun- sion and the score was 25-24 FULLTIME extras for a five point lead. nies returned to a full comp- with five to go. IT was a sad end to his Super CASUARINA defeated South Nurse inflict more pain on lement prop forward Tom Davis had opportunities to Rugby career with the Blues Darwin 25-24 in a thrilling CASUARINA 25 (B Nurse 2, T the Rabbitohs nine minutes Wright was able to score. secure victory with two long for All Black hooker Keven encounter at Rugby Park last Boucher, S Crowley tries; N before the break when he too Souths were in a again fol- range penalty attempts at the Mealamu when the Auckland- night. Satala con, pen) d SOUTH caught the defence unawares lowing a tremendous counter two minute and one minute based franchise suffered a 44-7 Having finished the first DARWIN 24 (J Rainger 2, T taking a quick tap from a pen- attack from a down field kick marks that had the distance defeat at the hands of the round robin cycle in first and Wright, S Falekakala tries; R alty and dived over for a try which resulted in a try to Jake but went agonisingly wide. Highlanders from Dunedin on second place the clubs were Davis 2 con) Satala was unsuccessful Rainger and Davis’s conver- Both kickers were off target Friday night. For Mealamu, 36, playing for the President’s Cup with the conversion but the sion had the Rabbitohs trailing with the usually reliable Davis it was his 175th game for the which brings with it some Cougars led 17-7. by a solitary point. landing two from six while Blues after serving the Blues bragging rights. Souths took the lead a few Souths were reduced to Rising Star nominee Ty- Satala managed two from five. for 16 seasons. “Playing for this The Rabbitohs had defeated minutes later when the giant thirteen players when Rhys rone Boucher scored in the The victory gives the Cou- club, for this city, and for this the Cougars 24-21 in a thriller Sueni Falekakala crashed over Mulholland and Robbie were corner after Satala cut a gars a 10 point lead in the race region is something I’ve en- when they last met in round with the conversion by Robbie sin-binned for separate inci- swathe through the Souths de- for the Minor Premiership joyed doing,” Mealamu said. two. Davis successful. dents a minute apart. fence but was unable to con- over Souths who hold a three “I’m going to miss this and Shane Crowley opened the Then Casuarina regained Satala landed a penalty goal vert the try. point lead over the University miss playing alongside these scoring for the Cougars with a the ball from the restart and on the stroke of half time to Casuarina then knocked on who they will meet next week. men. Put results aside, they’re quick tap from a penalty then converted the field position to send the Cougars to the break from the kick off and Rainger In the early match Pirates good men to play alongside, slipped through the defence points when loose forward leading 20-7. was in for his second try almost piled on the points against and I wouldn’t have it any for a try seven minutes into the Booby Nurse scored his ninth Casuarina were unable to immediately. Palmerston to win 52-21 after other way.” match. try of the season. capitalise on their two player Davis missed the conver- leading 24-14 at half time. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.