Super Rugby: Rebels' second half fightback sees off Brumbies
Melbourne Rebels scored a shock 32-24 win over the Brumbies in Friday night's Super Rugby clash at AAMI Park.
Last Updated: 28/03/14 11:55am
The Brumbies, hot favourites before the match, looked set to record their fifth straight victory after establishing a 17-12 lead early in the second half.
But a poor 10-minute period midway through the second 40 minutes saw the momentum swing.
Rebels full-back Jason Woodward sparked the turnaround by beating four defenders to touch down in the 59th minute, and he then converted from the sideline.
The hosts' second try came through hard-running centre Mitch Inman in the 69th minute.
A late try by speedster Robbie Coleman got the Brumbies back in the hunt but then another Woodward kick brought his personal tally for the match to 27 points - including six penalties - to seal the win.
The result breaks a three-match losing streak for the Rebels.
Going to form
The match appeared to be going to form when full-back Jesse Mogg touched down after five minutes, outpacing Tom Kingston to touch down. Nic White, who supplied the pass to Mogg, added the extras.
The Rebels cut the lead to four almost immediately as Woodward nailed his first penalty, but White took the visitors' advantage back out to seven with a 10th-minute kick, and that was how the score stayed until the break.
Woodward made it 10-6 but the Brumbies responded with a penalty try to open up an 11-point lead as the game looked to be getting away from the hosts.
But a lack of discipline cost the Brumbies as Woodward added two more penalties to cut the gap to five and his stunning converted try just before the hour enabled them to go ahead, and they never looked back.
Woodward took the Rebels to 22 points before Inman beat Mogg with a clever dummy to touch down again.
The Brumbies threatened late on when Matt Toomua chipped through for Coleman to score but Woodward was unerring with the boot again to kill off their hopes.