Related News

Home » Sports » Rugby

Brumbies' rally shocks Crusaders

MARK Gerrard's last-minute try and Stirling Mortlock's conversion from a tight angle gave the ACT Brumbies an 18-16 win over the Canterbury Crusaders in Super 14 rugby in Canberra yesterday.

Canterbury went ahead 16-11 when Ross Filipo crossed in the 56th minute, and defended that advantage near their own line over the closing minutes. However, Gerrard broke through and the Brumbies snatched victory.

The Crusaders, playing without injured All Blacks Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Leon MacDonald, took an early lead with a penalty to flyhalf Colin Slade in the seventh minute, with the Brumbies equalizing 10 minutes later with a Gerrard penalty.

Winger Casey Laulala scored the Crusaders' first try when he intercepted an attempted behind-the-back pass from the Brumbies' flanker George Smith and ran nearly the length of the field to score.

The Brumbies came back with their first try when Christian Lealiifano crossed in the 34th after Smith broke through the Crusaders' midfield. Stephen Brett's penalty one minute before halftime put the visitors up 11-8 at the interval.

Mortlock leveled the score just before Filipo's try.

The Brumbies have a 2-0 record after two rounds, while the Crusaders are 1-1.

In Cape Town, the Stormers weathered a late three-try rally by the Queensland Reds to win 27-24 on Friday.

The Reds came from 22 points down with 15 minutes remaining to almost steal the match from a Stormers team under pressure after losing at home against the Sharks.

The result left the Reds without a win after two matches but they claimed two bonus points for scoring four tries and losing by less than seven points.

The Reds stunned the home crowd when flyhalf Quade Cooper scored a try in the first minute after charging down an attempted clearance kick by lock Andries Bekker.

The Stormers responded within five minutes with a try from wing Tonderai Chavhanga.

Chavhanga and hooker Schalk Brits pulled off try-saving tackles during the period and on a rare visit into the Reds' 22 the Stormers earned a penalty and flyhalf Peter Grant added another three points.

Bekker atoned for his mistake by scoring the Stormers' second try in the 42nd and the home side added a third try through Fijian wing Sireli Naqelevuki and a penalty by Grant.

The Reds hit back, scoring tries through hooker Saia Faingaa, flank Scott Higginbotham and lock Van Humphries.



 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend