Super Rugby: Brumbies beat the Waratahs 26-20
Last Updated: 18/04/16 2:40pm
Winger Joe Tomane scored a hat-trick as the Brumbies beat the Waratahs 26-20 in a torrid Super Rugby match on Saturday.
The win took the Brumbies four points clear at the top of the Australian conference, with the Waratahs languishing in 13th place overall.
After a big loss to the Waikato Chiefs in Canberra in their last outing, the Brumbies needed to get away to a quick start.
They did that when Tomane crossed for his first five-pointer after only seven minutes.
They were in again eight minutes later when Tomane grabbed his second with a 50-metre run to the line following a break from Wallabies centre Matt Toomua.
The Waratahs struck back with a try to winger Reece Robinson and a Bernard Foley penalty, before hitting the front in the 31st minute when Israel Folau finished some superb work from the NSW backs.
Folau's try was his 29th in NSW colours and equals Lote Tuqiri's try-scoring record for the Waratahs. But any thoughts the Waratahs may have had of taking a lead into the half-time break were dashed when Moore crashed over at the back of a rolling maul.
Christian Leali'ifano's conversion put the ACT ahead 19-17 at the break, and they extended that lead to 26-17 when Tomane scored his third eight minutes after the restart.
The match developed into an arm wrestle and the Waratahs got within striking distance with a second Foley penalty when there were eight minutes remaining. But the Brumbies held on to secure the points despite a wave of 'Tahs attacks in the closing stages.
