New South Wales Waratahs winger Lachlan Turner took a cross kick on his finger tips then tiptoed for 20 metres just centimetres from the sideline, to help his side to a 19-12 victory over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday.
Turner’s try, from a pinpoint Berrick Barnes kick, put the Waratah’s 10 points in front, a lead they never relinquished to move to 33 points in a congested top half of the Super 14 table.
The Bulls, who play later on Saturday, the Canterbury Crusaders, Queensland Reds and Stormers are all on 34 points. The Wellington Hurricanes and Brumbies are on 27 and still have a slim chance of making the top four.
“It was tough, both teams were desperate out there,” Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said in a televised interview. “A lot was on the line and … it was very physical.”
In a stop-start match, Brumbies’ captain Stephen Hoiles became increasingly exasperated with an early heavy penalty count against his side.
Such was his frustration, Hoiles told referee Steve Walsh one of his decisions was a “rubbish call”.
Walsh immediately penalised the number eight and advanced the ball 10 metres for back chat.
Waratahs flyhalf Daniel Halangahu capitalised, slotting three penalties to give the home side a 9-0 first-half lead before the Brumbies responded with three successive penalties by Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau.
Giteau’s third penalty, after the halftime hooter sounded, locked the score at 9-9 at the break.
Halangahu slotted his fourth penalty to give the home side a 12-9 lead before Turner produced his touchline magic to gather in Barnes’ cross kick and score under the posts.
Halangahu converted to give the Waratahs a 19-9 lead and while Giteau slotted his fourth penalty with 20 minutes remaining neither side troubled the scoreboard again.
“It was a real grind. Just a really disappointing game,” Hoiles said. “I was disappointed with the number of scrum penalties, that’s neither right or wrong but it does get boring when you waste 10 to 15 minutes … repacking scrums.” – Reuters