Dagg fires Highlanders past Waratahs
Source: Agencies |
May 1, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO pieces of counter-attacking genius by Otago Highlanders' fullback Israel Dagg led his side to a 26-10 Super 14 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs yesterday in atrocious weather conditions more suited to tight, "up-the-jumper", rugby.
The defeat severely dented the Waratahs' semifinal chances. They remain fifth in the table with the rest of the teams still to play this weekend.
With torrential rain hammering down and a howling westerly wind on a chilly Invercargill night in New Zealand dictating a conservative style of play, the Highlanders kept the ball amongst their forwards and reduced their backs mostly to spectators.
Dagg, however, refused to be kept out of the game and used his superb balance and explosive acceleration to punch holes in the Waratahs defensive line several times, with two breaks ultimately leading to tries for All Blacks' flanker Adam Thomson.
Thomson, who exhibited bristling aggression, was industrious in the loose and recycling ball and clearing out at the rucks. He scored his first try when Dagg and Fetu'u Vainikolo combined to launch an attack from halfway.
Dagg converted the try to give the Highlanders a 12-0 lead inside 20 minutes after they had been rewarded for their patience, playing into the wind, with the opening score to No. 8 Stephen Setephano.
Waratahs captain Phil Waugh was seen to give his side an animated ticking off behind the goal line, which did the trick. Berrick Barnes and Daniel Halangahu became more prominent, driving the Highlanders back into their own territory with raking kicks that put Halangahu into position to slot a penalty.
Barnes came to the fore again as he attacked the line and put fullback Kurtley Beale over for a well-deserved try that Halangahu converted to make it 12-10 by the break.
Playing with the wind in the second half, the Highlanders forced the Waratahs back into their own territory.
(Reuters)
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
