Waratahs Tour off to Winning Start

The NSW Waratahs have kicked off their Development Tour with a comprehensive 39-7 victory over Saracens A at St Albans, north of London.

The Waratahs scored five tries to one, setting up victory with a commanding first half performance that saw them head into half time leading 20 points to nil.

After a torrid opening ten minutes the Waratahs got themselves on the board, fly half and vice captain Daniel Halangahu potting a penalty goal from 35 metres out to put his side out to a 3-nil lead.

Three minutes later the Waratahs were over for their first try, lock and captain Dean Mumm scoring next to the posts after a neat break from flanker Scott Fardy.

Halangahu’s conversion put the Waratahs out to a ten-nil lead.

A second Halangahu penalty was followed shortly before half time by the visitors second try, hooker Al Manning scoring off a driving maul.

The conversion made it 20-nil to the Waratahs at the end of the half.

Saracens started the second forty on the attack, and five minutes after the break they went over for their first – and ultimately only – try of the match through replacement prop Nick Lloyd.

Lloyd’s try was converted by fly half Alex Goode to keep the home side in the hunt at 20-7.

The Waratahs next try, in the 49th minute of play, was one of the best of the match. After losing a lineout on the half way line the Waratahs were on the defensive when Mumm, having swooped on a loose ball sprinted fifty metres only to be pulled down just short of the line.

However winger Ed Jenkins, in his first match for NSW, was on the spot to retain possession and scoot over in the corner.

Halangahu converted from the sideline to re-establish his side’s 20 point lead.

The fly half’s fine afternoon continued, playing a hand in both his side’s remaining two tries.

The first saw the ball move through eight pairs of hands and travel almost the length of the field before a Halangahu long ball saw Jackson Mullane touch down in the corner.

Halangahu and Mullane would again combine for the final try of the match, the fly half grubbering ahead for Mullane who scored under the posts.

Halangahu was just one of a number of stand out performers for the Waratahs, which included flanker Fardy, lock Mumm, the entire front row, fullback Lachlan Turner and scrumhalf David Rimmer, who thoroughly outplayed his more experienced opposite, former Stormers scrumhalf neil de Kock.

The Waratahs relocate to Northampton on Friday, ahead of Monday’s match against Northampton Wanderers at Franklin’s Gardens.