The ACT Brumbies have gone down to the NSW Waratahs 29-17 at Viking Park, producing a spirited second-half fightback but ultimately falling short in a thrilling Sunday afternoon contest.
A strong and vocal crowd turned out for the fixture and were treated to a traditional ACT v NSW rivalry clash. As the crowd and the clouds rolled over Viking Park, it was the Waratahs who struck first, with hooker Britt Merlo rumbling over from a five-metre maul to open the scoring.
The visitors doubled their advantage just three minutes later when Kaitlin Leaney burst through a porous Brumbies' defensive line to score under the posts in her milestone 25th appearance, giving the Waratahs a 14-0 lead after just 10 minutes.
The Brumbies looked to steady defensively and build pressure of their own, but Waratahs No.8 Piper Duck broke down the left touchline before finding captain Emily Chancellor on the inside to score. The visitors extended their lead to 19-0 midway through the opening half.
The home side responded to the delight of the Viking Park faithful. Quick hands down the left edge from Captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona created space for last week's try-scoring hero Ivania Wong, who raced down the touchline to finish in the corner.
Flyhalf Faitala Moleka again showed her composure, landing a superb sideline conversion to reduce the deficit to 19-7 with 15 minutes remaining in the half.
One of the loudest cheers of the opening stanza came moments later when Georgie Hayes ran on for her Brumbies debut. The Wagga Wagga product is still at school, and her crew of travelling supporters made sure the milestone did not go unnoticed.
The Waratahs finished the half on the front foot, camping inside the Brumbies' 22 as the siren approached. Repeated infringements saw Martha Fua sent to the sin bin, and the visitors capitalised on the numerical advantage. Leaney powered over for her second try from close range, sending the sides to the sheds with the Waratahs leading 26-7.
In a sight that would have made Head Coach James Erwin very happy, his side came out firing in the second half. Determined to win the territory battle, the home side spent phase after phase bashing the Waratahs' line. Recent Wallaroos debutant Lily Bone made her presence felt, carrying two blue jerseys over the line to score in the right corner. Moleka's conversion banged agonisingly off the uprights, leaving the Brumbies trailing 26-12.
With the game hanging in the balance, Erwin turned to his bench for impact. Ringing the changes, including USA Eagle Mona Lisa Tupou and former Waratah Millie Parker, the Brumbies lifted the intensity in search of a way back into the contest.
The home side began to get the wood over the visitors, but the Waratahs' defence held firm. Finally, in the 77th minute, scrum-half Anne Fernandez de Corres sniped from the back of a ruck to score a deserved late try for the Brumbies.
Ultimately, it proved to be a consolation try as an 80th-minute Desiree Miller penalty goal put the result beyond doubt and closed out an enthralling contest, with the visitors running out 29-17 winners.
The Brumbies now turn their attention to a trip to Fiji, where they will face the Fijian Drua Women next Saturday, 20 June, at Four R Stadium in Ba.
