10 in a row for Waratahs over struggling Reds
The Waratahs won their tenth straight match against rivals the Reds as they prevailed 28-17 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Tries from Ned Hanigan, Curtis Rona and Alex Newsome were added to by 13 points from the boot of Bernard Foley as they go above the Brumbies.
The Reds’ try-scorers were Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia and Sefanaia Naivalu in a contest that was played on tricky under-foot conditions.
It has been a disappointing start to the Super Rugby season for the Reds and this is their third straight loss, which leaves them sitting bottom of the Australian Conference. Next weekend they travel to the Sunwolves and one fears defeat in Tokyo would add yet more pressure on them.
They had an opportunity to take an early lead in this match but former Waratah Bryce Hegarty was wayward with a relatively simple penalty attempt. Foley made no such mistake on five minutes following an offside and then doubled the lead four minutes later due to side entry at a ruck.
The Waratahs came close to further extending their buffer on 18 minutes when Jake Gordon was bundled into touch after being put through by Israel Folau. But they did not have to wait long for the score as with JP Smith in the sin-bin, the ‘Tahs crossed through Hanigan’s carry.
At 13-0 down the Reds desperately needed a response and it came through the reliable Kerevi, his pick and go from five out making it 13-7.
That boosted the Reds’ confidence and despite Foley kicking a penalty for the Waratahs on 36 minutes, a late Chris Feauai-Sautia crossing after a nice offload from Kerevi from 40 metres out put the visitors in touch at 16-12 as both sets of players went to their changing rooms.
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It was Daryl Gibson who would have been the happier head coach after the resumption though as a long-range score from Rona one minute into the second period gave the Waratahs some welcome breathing space at 21-12 to the good. That though was the only score before the 66th minute.
Fortunately for the Reds those points went their way as Hegarty’s smart kick saw Naivalu gather and stroll over to make it a five-point game.
However the visitors’ glee was shortlived as Waratahs replacement wing Newsome struck back two minutes later with a crossing from a smart line to seal a win that puts them three points behind the Melbourne Rebels, as their impressive streak of results over the Reds continues.