A penalty from Sammie Wood has seen the Brumbies W take home a 25-22 victory against the Melbourne Rebels W in Ballarat.
Tries from Rebecca Smyth, Talei Qalo-Wilson and Louise Burrows, plus another stellar performance off the boot by Wood means Adam Butt’s side remain unbeaten in 2020.
— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) February 22, 2020
The Rebels opened the scoring from a penalty, but it was the Brumbies who started the sharper of the two teams. Eventually, the Brumbies endeavours lead to points.
Tayla Stanford showed zero ring-rust in her first outing after returning from injury, and her strong carries took the Brumbies close to the line.
From there, Rebecca Smyth was able to bury her way over the line, her second try in two weeks. Wood added the extras to give the Brumbies an early advantage.
Wood then extended the Brumbies advantage off the tee, before Talei Qalo Wilson scored the try of the game.
Taking a searing line off Ella Ryan, the Brumbies fullback broke through the Rebels defence, and was too quick for the covering forces.
Wood’s touchline conversion gave the Brumbies a two-try cushion, 17-3. The Rebels finally started to get their hands on the ball and scored a well-deserved try just before the half-time hooter.
😉 Quick thinking from Rebecca Smyth. #SuperW#REBWvBRUW WATCH: https://t.co/golgUjCB1m pic.twitter.com/1mhEv0DfYf
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) February 22, 2020
Coming out of the break the right side of a 17-10 score, the Brumbies looked to play inside the Rebels half.
However, the home side were now hitting their straps.It took until the 60th minute, but finally the Rebels squared things up, a converted try bringing the game to 17 a-piece.
In the ensuing five minutes, the Brumbies regained the lead, Louise Burrows diving over close to the line, but that buffer didn’t last long, the Rebels locking things up at 22-22. With the tension building, it would be the team who could hold their nerve that would win the game.
With a penalty on their 22m, the Rebels took a scrum, sensing they had an advantage at the set-piece.
The Brumbies responded to the challenge, turning the ball over and after some strong carries, the rebels infringed at the breakdown.
Stepping up, as she did all game, Wood converted the penalty into three points, winning the game for the Brumbies.
A 25-22 victory means the Brumbies are still on course for a place in the finals, hoping to go one step further than their third-place finish in 2019.
Melbourne Rebels W: 22
Brumbies W: 25 (T: R.Smyth, T. Qalo Wilson, L. Burrows C; S.Wood 2 P; Wood 2)
