Waratahs seal home semi

Victory enough to secure NSW second spot

Last updated: 17th May 2008

Mumm: Slides over to score

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The Waratahs have joined the Crusaders in booking a home semi-final after they toppled the Reds 18-11 at the Suncorp Stadium.

Even after the Blues had edged past fellow countrymen the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Friday, the permutations at the top end were still very much in the air pre-kick-off.

However, the 'Tahs' pre-game position on the cusp of the knockout stages had left their fate very much in their own hands in Brisbane.

But first-half scores from forwards Dean Mumm and Wycliff Palu proved enough to end the Chiefs hopes of gate-crashing the last four.

As expected there was some early niggle with Phil Waugh and David Croft the first to get the ball rolling at ruck-time before Dan Vickerman and James Horwill exchanged pleasantries moments.

Failing to get drawn away from their objective, the 'Tahs did have opportunities to draw first blood in a scoreless opening 20 minutes. But young Kurtley Beale was unsuccessful on either upright with two shots from 35 metres out.

Squabbling

However, fittingly the visitors called on their Mumm to sort out the squabbling as Lote Tuqiri's run and Waugh's know-how sent the big lock under the posts on 22 minutes, Beale adding the simple extras.

That only sparked the spoiling Reds into life as Clinton Schifcofske's penalty closed the gap five minutes from the interval.

Yet that three points could have been quickly wiped following Horwill's high-shot on Beale, but once again the fly-half struggled to find his range from distance.

So, Ewen McKenzie's men turned to their power-play from attacking line-out ball in the final sands of half-time as Palu pierced the close-range defence to race over to stretch the lead - the 'Tahs seemingly crashing the crashers.

The Reds were not going to go quietly into the Brisbane night though, and fresh from the interval Berrick Barnes reduced the arrears with a drop-goal on 45 minutes.

And the hosts would have been encouraged by how the momentum began to tilt in their favour with just one score the difference.

Then controversy struck the Suncorp as a succession of fumbles led to Peter Hynes having a one-on-one down the left before probable glory. However, referee Matt Goddard adjudged a knock-on and then pinged Rodney Blake for non-use of the shoulder in quick succession - upsetting the baiting crowd.

However, the Waratahs weathered the sustained storm and thanks to a Quade Cooper error and Schifcofske's illegal hands, Beale found his range for two vital penalty goals with 12 minutes remaining.

Yet pride was very much the final challenge for the hosts and they got their reward through Hynes' well-taken collect and score deep into injury-time.