/ 10 April 2000

BRUMBIES BLAST OTAGO

THE ACT Brumbies moved to the top of the Super 12 standings on Friday with an impressive 34-15 win over the Otago Highlanders. The Brumbies ran in four tries to none to secure a bonus point and leapfrog Otago and Canterbury at the head of the table. ACT scored two tries in the first 20 minutes, through lock David Giffin and fullback Andrew Walker, to open up a commanding early lead. They led 21-9 at the break after centre Stirling Mortlock kicked three penalties and a conversion to Otago flyhalf Tony Brown’s three penalties. Otago reduced the deficit to nine points when Brown kicked a fourth goal shortly after the re-start as their forwards started to win more ball. But they failed to penetrate the home team’s rock-solid defence and eventually cracked as ACT ran in two late tries through Australia’s World Cup heroes Stephen Larkham and Joe Roff.