The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies have managed a tight 24-22 win at GIO Stadium on Friday afternoon to find their first win of the season.
The Brumbies would strike fast through fly-half Faitala Moleka crossing the line in the eighth minute, after a dummy pass bamboozled the Rebels defence creating space for the Wallaroos star.
The visitors however would return serve quickly in the 12th minute through vice-captain Melanie Kawa making the most of a barnstorming run close the Brumbies line evening the scores to 5-5.
Facing a key loss early, the home side lost Wallaroo Jay Huriwai to injury in the 19th minute, forcing the incredibly versatile Kolora Lomani to shift from wing to scrum-half for the remainder of the match.
The Brumbies were then forced to rally the troops as they faced an onslaught in good position from the Rebels, managing to keep a clean defensive sheet for that brutal 10 minutes.
Just before halftime however the Brumbies would break the stalemate as Tania Naden would become the second vice-captain of the night to score as she proved too strong wrestling her way over in the 36th minute.
However the Rebels would refuse to go into the sheds at a deficit, as their Hooker Jayme Nuku took notes from Naden's try-scoring effort and replicated the display in the 39th minute resulting in a 10-10 half-time score.
Picking up where she left off Nuku would take her scoring form into the second half early, finding herself another 5-pointer in the 45th minute before the try was converted by Cassie Siataga for a 17-10 lead to the visitors.
Captain Siokapesi Palu then took the match into her own hands, wrapping around a successful lineout and wrestling a Rebels defender to make sure the ball found the turf.
Converted by Faitala Moleka under pressure the home side were able to claw their way back to a 17 all deadlock in the 51st minute.
Despite some desperate last ditch defence, Rebels were able to find the lead for their second time of the night through Crystal Mayes finding her way to the corner after collecting a miracle pass to send her over the line.
Not to be outdone however, Naden would then collect her second try off the evening to keep up with her opposite number after collecting a short ball from make-shift halfback Lomani to take Brumbies into a 24-22 lead in the 61st minute.
The Brumbies would then show their warrior spirit to close out the game with a great show of defence in the final 20 minutes.
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies 24 (Tries: Faitala Moleka, Tania Naden 2, Siokapesi Palu; Goals: Moleka 2) def. Melbourne Rebels 22 (Tries: Melanie Kawa, Jayme Nuku 2, Crystal Mayes; Goals: Cassie Siataga)
