HSBC Waratahs Lose Battle and Waugh against Cheetahs
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Sunday, 18 February 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
The HSBC Waratahs have ended their three-match tour of South Africa on a low, losing skipper Phil Waugh to an ankle injury en route to a 30-26 loss to the Cheetahs in Kimberley.
Phil Waugh is helped from the field in Kimberley.
Phil Waugh is helped from the field in Kimberley. [Super 14 Rd 3 x v Cheetahs, 2007]
Flyhalf Kurtley Beale gets his pass away in his starting debut in Kimberley
Flyhalf Kurtley Beale gets his pass away in his starting debut in Kimberley. [Super 14 Rd 3 x v Cheetahs, 2007]
Tough Defence ... Brett Sheehan shows how it's done.
Tough Defence ... Brett Sheehan shows how it's done. [Super 14 Rd 3 x v Cheetahs, 2007]
Played in steamy conditions, the opening 20 minutes of the match were disastrous for the visitors, who lost Waugh to an ankle injury in the first minute of play.
They then conceded three tries in 18 minutes to trail by 19 points to 3 with just a quarter of the match gone.
The Cheetahs first try came after four minutes, with winger Ronnie Cooke barging his way over from close range one phase after Juan Smith was held up over the line.
The home side’s second came almost from the restart, fullback Phillip Burger showing a neat turn of pace before touching down out wide to make it 12-nil after six minutes.
A Peter Hewat penalty got the Waratahs on the scoreboard however the joy would prove short lived, winger Eddie Fredericks popping up to score the Cheetahs third try on 19 minutes for a 19-3 lead.
The Waratahs managed to regain their composure in the lead up to half time and converted it into points through to a try to teenage flyhalf Kurtley Beale.
Beale bagged his maiden Super 14 try in his first starting appearance, chipping over the Cheetahs defence before regathering and racing away to score beside the posts.
Hewat’s conversion ensured the Waratahs remained in touch at 19-10.
The Cheetahs stretched their lead through a dropped goal to flyhalf Herkie Kruger one minute before half time, however Waratahs centre Ben Jacobs would finish the scoring for the half, picking up his side’s second try after the siren sounded.
The Waratahs, having secured the ball from the restart, sent it wide and Jacobs made the most of the opportunity, running a neat line to stroll over almost untouched.
Hewat converted to reduce the Cheetahs lead to 22-17 at the break.
The winger nudged the visitors even closer with a penalty shortly after half time, however the Cheetahs lead would be stretched again soon after when Smith, in the midst of a man of the match winning performance, touched down out wide to secure his side a four try bonus point.
Two more Hewat penalty goals – the second from 52 metres out – coupled with one to Bosman took the score along to where it finished at 30-26, and yet despite finishing full of attack the Waratahs could not score the try they needed to take victory.
The loss means the Waratahs finish their three-match tour of the Republic with five competition points, through a win over the Lions in week one and a bonus point from today’s match.
On the plus side for the Waratahs Beale, scrumhalf Brett Sheehan and lock Dean Mumm all performed well after being handed their starting debuts for this match.
Young prop Jeremy Tilse also won his Super 14 debut late in the game after coming on as a replacement for Benn Robinson.
The Waratahs return home on Tuesday afternoon (AEDT) ahead of a week four bye, their next match is against the Western Force at Aussie Stadium on Friday 2 March.
HSBC WARATAHS – 26
Tries: Kurtley Beale, Ben Jacobs
Conversions: Peter Hewat 2/2
Penalties: Peter Hewat 4/5
Dropped Goals: Peter Hewat 0/1
CHEETAHS – 30
Tries: Ronnie Cooke, Phillip Burger, Eddie Fredericks, Juan Smith
Conversions: Meyer Bosman 2/4
Penalties: Meyer Bosman 1/1
Dropped Goals: Herkie Kruger 1/1, Phillip Burger 0/1
At the ABSA Park Stadium, Kimberley