Brumbies grab Bulls by the horns

May 6 • General News, Super Rugby • 1682 Views • Comments Off on Brumbies grab Bulls by the horns

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The Aquis Brumbies have defeated the Bulls 23-6 at GIO Stadium in a tough encounter, to move back to the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference.

A defensive line that did not allow any tries, coupled with tries from Nigel Ah Wong and Tomas Cubelli as well as the accurate boot of Christian Lealiifano were enough for the home side to earn a 17-point victory.

The Brumbies were dominant against the visitors, enjoying 64 per cent of possession during the game and consistently preventing the Bulls from entering their defensive 22.

While Bulls flyhalf Francois Brummer opened the scoring with a long-range penalty goal, the Brumbies opted for early points to regain the lead and after 23 minutes were out to a 9-3 advantage.

While the Brumbies went close to scoring on a number of occasions they couldn’t cross the line and the first half ended with the Brumbies up 9-3.

The second period was much more flowing compared to the first but it was the Bulls who scored first after the break when Brummer converted his second penalty.

As has been the case for the Brumbies this year, the forward pack were a big highlight in the match with the home side winning 108 rucks compared to the Bulls’ 46.

The solid work of the forwards was supported by the backs, and in the 45th minute the games opening try was scored when Nigel Ah Wong split through the defence from 30 metres out to race away and plant the ball down with one hand.

In the 57th minute, Tomas Cubelli increased the lead by scoring his second try in brumbies’ colours.

With the ball positioned within centimetres of the try line and bodies on the line itself, the Argentinean grabbed the ball from the back of the ruck and cleverly dived over the line and slammed the ball down to extend the Brumbies lead.

10,024 supporters saw the Brumbies score two tries in their specially designed Ladies Round jerseys. Following the match Canberra Milk donated $20,000 to the Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) ACT, after running the #GoFor5 campaign all week.

The win is the first time this season the Brumbies have stopped a team from scoring any tries this season, and the first time they have won by more than a converted try over the Bulls since 2003.

The victory puts the Brumbies back on top of the Australian Conference and sets the scene for a top-of-the-table clash in Melbourne next week against the Rebels.