Perfect start for Waratahs
The Waratahs made it three wins from three after they overcame the Highlanders 34-16 at Aussie Stadium in the Super 14 on Friday.
Last Updated: 28/02/09 10:46am
The Waratahs made it three wins from three after they overcame the Highlanders 34-16 at Aussie Stadium in the Super 14 on Friday.
Despite the unbeaten start to the season, though, the Waratahs are yet to fire on all cylinders - with still more to come from Chris Hickey's side.
Having weathered some free-spirited early Highlanders attacking, the Waratahs clinically struck twice in the first half to go into the break 17-9 ahead and never looked back.
For the visitors, this was another frustrating day. Had passes gone to hand early on it could have been a very different match but the team still needs a couple of classes in finishing school. Unfortunately for them, the one move in the first half which was finished was halted by referee James Leckie for a supposed knock-on as Daniel Bowden struggled to control the pass.
Even when the Highlanders did score a try in the second half, it had to be gifted to them by some dreadful communication in the home defence which left an enormous overlap on the right-hand side open for nearly a minute before Jason Shoemark scampered home.
Both sides with work to do then. Yet the Waratahs sit - however briefly it may turn out to be - at the top of the Super 14 with three wins from three.
They kicked a lot of ball away early on, almost inviting the exciting runners at the Highlanders rear to have a go. Fetu'u Vainikolo rarely failed to beat a man, neither did Ben Smith. When space was dear, Israel Dagg was given ample chance to show his monster boot and pin the 'Tahs back in their own half.
Threatened
It caused frustration in the home ranks, and a stream of free-kicks and penalties came the Highlanders' way. Clint Newland gave Benn Robinson a torrid time at the scrums, with two penalties converted by Bowden, and the swarming home defence was a little too enthusiastic at charging up early on, a source of a further three points for Bowden.
Still, it was the Waratahs who threatened the line first, with Tom Carter's touchdown ruled out as he had scampered a yard ahead of the chipping Beale.
After 24 minutes, it was the Waratahs who scored first as well, when Beale grubbered through on the short side and Lote Tuqiri sprinted to grab the ball in far more space than he should have been allowed. Beale's conversion from the touchline was a suitably stern retort for those who had slammed him for his profligacy a week before.
Five minutes before the break Beale struck again from the tee to make it 10-9, then right on half-time the Waratahs scored a killer try with the move of the game. Sam Norton-Knight's was the initial break after he took an inside ball at pace from Carter, terrific support running and angles saw flank Ben Mowen haring in from 15m in the left-hand corner. Beale added the extras.
Two minutes into the second half, Wycliff Palu thundered over from close range with Beale once again converting, before the Highlanders finally finished off a spell of pressure through Shoemark.
Beale eased the Waratahs further ahead with a penalty though and the lapse in defensive concentration that had allowed Shoemark so much space was not repeated. Neither, unfortunately, was the kind of movement that led to the second try as the game drifted to an inevitable conclusion.
Only right at the end did the Waratahs complete the mission, when Brett Sheehan nipped through the midfield to get the bonus-point try.
