Waratahs secure hard-fought win

The NSW Waratahs have defeated the Bulls 32-26 this morning in Cape Town, courtesy of two tries in the last ten minutes to Daniel Halangahu and Sam Norton-Knight.

For the Waratahs, Chris Whitaker, Morgan Turinui, Halangahu and Norton-Knight all crossed the line, while Peter Hewat booted three conversions and two penalties.

For the Bulls, Jongi Nokwe and Bulla Conradie slid over, while Peter Grant kicked two conversions and three penalties, Werner Greef kicked a drop goal.

The game started off at a high tempo, with many errors occurring as a result. And it was only in the ninth minute that the first score was registered, with Grant slotting home a penalty for the Stormers after the Waratahs were caught offside.

Only four minutes later, a superb chip, chase and gather from Nokwe resulted in the first try of the match, as the Stormers went ahead 10-0 after the successful conversion.

The Waratahs were in need of an immediate reply, and it came from Phil Waugh, who superbly charged down Grant’s kick, allowing Whitaker to pounce on the loose ball and touch-down for the Waratahs first score of the match. And once Hewat had slotted the conversion, the Waratahs trailed by three points.

But all the Waratahs work proved to be undone, with some poor discipline from Waugh in the 17th minute allowing Grant to add a further three points to the Stormers lead, stretching it out to six points.

Soon after the Grant penalty, rhe Waratahs were under pressure with the Stormers striking fear into the hearts of their opponents with a few bone-crunching tackles. Lote Tuqiri was unable to handle the pressure, as one of his passes became a victim of Conradie, who intercepted and slid over, stretching the score to 20-7.

The Waratahs then clawed back slightly with a penalty of their own, and at half-time the Stormers led 20-10.

Four minutes after the break, the boys from New South Wales continued clawing their way back, with Hewat slotting a penalty, and bringing the deficit back to seven points.

But the Stormers managed to reinstate their lead two minutes later, with a magnificent drop goal from Greef soaring through the sticks.

At the 52 minute mark the Waratahs firmly stated their intentions, with a darting Turinui run through the defence resulting in a try. Hewat added the extras and the Waratahs trailed 23-20.

A Stormers penalty eight minutes later gave the South Africans’ breathing space, before Waratah Halangahu ran straight through the defence of the Stormers and slid over for a try. Hewat converted, and for the first time in the match, the Waratahs led 27-26.

Only four minutes later the Waratahs were over the line again, with Norton-Knight capping off a brilliant game on the wing with a try, stretching the score out to 32-26.

The Stormers were unable to hit back, and the score-line remained at 32-26, with the Waratahs securing a hard-fought victory.

Next week, the Waratahs take on the Bulls in Pretoria, while the Stormers play host to the Brumbies.

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