Brumbies Brush Away The Drama
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday April 10, 2004
THE ACT Brumbies displayed no ill-effects from a week of drama to smash the Highlanders 50-18 at Canberra Stadium last night.
Any questions about how the Brumbies would respond to the news that coach David Nucifora will be sacked at the end of the season were quickly answered with some exhilarating attacking raids.
The Highlanders had the measure of the ACT in the first 10 minutes, aware their chances of putting doubt in the minds of their opponents would need to come early.
It paid off for the Highlanders in the fifth minute, taking a 7-0 lead when full-back Nick Evans intercepted a Stirling Mortlock pass and raced 90m to open the scoring.
It proved little joy for the Highlanders, with the Brumbies regrouping and launching their own assault in the 11th minute.
The Brumbies' mobile locks combined superbly with Radike Samo putting Mark Chisholm across the line, and despite trailing 7-5, their confidence was back.
A penalty goal to Joe Roff put the Brumbies in front for the first time, which was quickly answered by a Tony Brown penalty goal, but the writing was on the wall.
Clyde Rathbone busted the Highlanders defence to put the Brumbies right back on the attack, and Mortlock redeemed himself, backing his way across the line in the 23rd minute for a 15-10 lead which became 29-13 at half-time.
In last night's other match, the Blues savoured a 56-19 win over the Bulls.
They scored nine exciting tries to three and while they took maximum points from the match at North Harbour Stadium, it made little impact on the points table.
After just winning two from six matches until last week, the Blues were third from the bottom on the points table and last night's big victory didn't raise their hopes for the semifinals.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury