Waratahs whack Brumbies

The Waratahs scored nine tries to beat the Brumbies 53-17 in a 90-minute pre-season match in Mudgee on Saturday.

Both teams made mistakes early on in the blustery, humid conditions, with the first points only coming in the 21st minute when flanker Jack Dempsey went over from a lineout.

Soon after, the Tahs went from left to right and scrumhalf Jake Gordon dotted down under the posts, with fullback Bryce Hegarty's conversion making it 12-0.

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The Brumbies hit back with a converted try of their own in the 28th minute, as they drove from a lineout before scrumhalf Tomás Cubelli picked up, dummied and went over.

The Tahs struck again on the half-hour mark when centre Irae Simone's kick through the defence was gathered by winger Reece Robinson. But again the Brumbies responded with a try of their own, with hooker Josh Mann-Rea forcing his way over from a rolling maul to narrow the gap to five.

But the Waratahs would take a 24-12 lead into half-time thanks to a fourth try from Hegarty, who danced his way past a couple of tacklers.

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The Tahs totally dominated the second half, in which both teams made a number of changes.

Replacement Andrew Kellaway dived over in the corner and when Matt Lucas dummied and crossed the line it was game over at 36-12 after 62 minutes.

Simone grabbed his second as the Tahs really started to rub it in, before Tom Banks went over for the Brumbies' third in the 83rd minute.

The Tahs finished strongly, though, with replacement hooker Tolu Latu forcing his way over from a driving maul and Robinson scoring in stoppage time to take their team past 50.

Waratahs – Tries: Jack Dempsey, Jake Gordon, Irae Simone (2), Bryce Hegarty, Andrew Kellaway, Matt Lucas, Tolu Latu, Reece Robinson. Conversions: Hegarty (2), Andrew Deegan (2).
Brumbies – Tries: Tomás Cubelli, Josh Mann-Rea, Tom Banks. Conversion: Wharenui Hawera.

Photo: Waratahs Facebook page

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