No Break in the Weather for the Waratahs After Loss to Stormers
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Saturday, 17 March 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
The HSBC Waratahs have lost their second consecutive match at Aussie Stadium, going down to the Stormers 16 points to 10.
Morgan Turinui forges ahead on a dissappointing night at the office against the Stormers
Morgan Turinui forges ahead on a dissappointing night at the office against the Stormers
On a damp night in front of 18,409 fans, handling again let the Waratahs down with turnovers denying the home side any chance at continuity.
Over the course of the match the Waratahs gave up 19 handling errors to the Stormers nine, with the first coming from the kickoff.
That gave the Stormers their first attacking opportunity inside the Waratahs 22, flyhalf Peter Grant opening the scoring in just the second minute with a penalty from out wide.
It would prove to be the only score in a first half characterised by fleeting attacking opportunities from both sides.
The Waratahs, while lacking any clear scoring opportunities, did go close on a number of occasions only to be let down by poor passing or handling.
In the end the teams would go into half time with the Stormers ahead by three points.
Peter Hewat levelled the scores early in the second half with a sublime strike from 40 metres, however it would only remain level for a matter of minutes when Grant punished the Waratahs for coming in from the side.
Up until that point the Stormers had looked the more dangerous of the two sides and they confirmed that status soon after, Jean de Villiers finding the tryline out wide after an expansive backline movement.
Referee Lyndon Bray rightfully went upstairs after de Villiers looked to have knocked on in the act of scoring, a verdict found to be correct by TMO James Scholtens.
However just three minutes later the visitors had their reward, captain and man of the match Luke Watson hitting the ball at pace before stepping his way through the defence to score.
Grant converted and the Stormers held a comfortable 13-3 lead.
It became 16-3 with 15 minutes left to play, another Grant penalty seeing the Stormers kick clear.
The Waratahs searched desperately for a comeback and found it in the 73rd minute, Hewat and Lote Tuqiri combining to form an overlap out wide.
However Stormers winger Dylan des Fountain got a hand to the ball, which resulted in referee Bray awarding the Waratahs a penalty try and handing des Fountain a yellow card.
Hewat's conversion got the Waratahs to within a converted try of the lead and yet despite enjoying a one man advantage for the remainder of the match they couldn't crack the defence, the match ending with the Stormers still six points in front at 16-10.
One plus for the home side was the bonus point they gained for losing by less than seven points, while another was the form of rookie winger Lachlan Turner, who enjoyed some good touches in his maiden Super Rugby outing.
The Waratahs will now regroup ahead of next week's clash against the Blues in Auckland, the team to travel on Wednesday ahead of Friday's match.
HSBC WARATAHS - 10
Tries: Penalty try
Conversions: Peter Hewat (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Peter Hewat (1/1)
STORMERS - 16
Tries: Luke Watson
Conversions: Peter Grant (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Peter Grant (3/3)
At Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Crowd: 18,409
Man of the Match: Luke Watson (Stormers)
Referee: Lyndon Bray (NZ)