Skipper Stirling Mortlock inspired the ACT Brumbies to a much-improved 26-13 Super 14 rugby win over South Africa’s Western Stormers in Canberra on Friday.
Mortlock, returning to the game after a succession of head knocks, contributed 16 points as the Brumbies won their first home match of the season by three tries to one for the first win by an Australian team in three weeks.
But the Brumbies failed to claim a fourth-try bonus point despite a glut of second-half possession.
The Stormers, disappointing after their shock 30-17 win over the Hurricanes in Wellington last week, claimed their only try after the final siren when fullback Gio Aplon sprinted away for an 80m intercept try off a floating Mark Gerrard pass.
The Brumbies, two-times winners of the southern hemisphere provincial series, were frustrated that they could not come away with a bonus scoring point and coach Laurie Fisher could be seen in the coach’s box holding his head in despair.
Mortlock, playing only his third match in six outings this campaign, scored a bullocking try, a conversion and three penalty goals to add much-needed punch to the Brumbies’ backline, which was missing in the previous week’s stunted 19-7 home loss to the Bulls.
Adam Ashley-Cooper was forceful in the backs and scored a smart try, beating a defender and then stepping off his right foot to score in the 50th minute for a 26-6 lead, but the Brumbies were unable to add another point in the remaining 30 minutes.
Second-rower Mark Chisholm was another strong performer for the Brumbies, scoring the opening try in the 10th minute off a charge-down and providing the final pass for Mortlock’s try.
The Stormers led 11-0 after 25 minutes but two penalty goals from Peter Grant had the Cape Town team trailing 14-6 at half-time.
They struggled in the second half and were only rewarded by Aplon’s gift runaway try against the run of play after the siren.
The Stormers face up to the Waratahs in Sydney next week as part of their month-long Australasian road trip.
The Brumbies, who may have Wallaby flyhalf Stephen Larkham back next week from a chest injury, leave this week for three games in South Africa, starting with the Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on March 17. — AFP
