CA Brumbies edged out in final pre-season match

Patrick Phibbs fends off the Waratahs defence

The CA Brumbies have rounded out their pre-season with a physical 15-7 loss to the Waratahs at Viking Park tonight.

The ACT side welcomed back another four of their front-line Wallabies with George Smith (20 minutes), Adam Ashley-Cooper (40 minutes), and Stephen Moore and Mark Chisholm (both 50 minutes) all making their first appearances for the season.

Both sides were intent on throwing the ball in what was a mostly an appetising and often brutal display of end-to-end, side-to-side rugby.

While both sides shared possession and territory in the early exchanges, it was the Waratahs who drew first blood when captain Phil Waugh burrowed over from a ruck on the CA Brumbies try line 10 minutes into the match.

The CA Brumbies took only four minutes to respond when the fleet-footed Francis Fainifo launched a scintillating counter attacked from the halfway line. The left winger stepped and danced his way around the approaching defensive line and found Adam Ashley-Cooper backing up on the inside to cross.

Four minutes later Fainifo was denied a try of his own in the corner when he was bundled into touch following some excellent lead-up work and a series of offloads from Stephen Hoiles, Josh Valentine and Adam Ashley-Cooper through the centre passage of the field.

A Berrick Barnes penalty goal in the 27th minute saw the Waratahs lead 8-7 at the break before former CA Brumbies Peter Betham and Josh Holmes combined to give the visitors what would be a winning 15-7 lead in the 60th minute.

The CA Brumbies will travel to Perth on Tuesday ahead of their opening Investec Bank Super 14 fixture against the Western Forced in Perth on Friday (12 February).

In the night’s other match, the Brumby Runners trounced Sydney University 78-0 in the curtain-raiser at Viking Park. Ed Stubbs, Robbie Coleman and Kurt Mulcahy each crossed twice in the 12-try romp.

MATCH DETAILS
Waratahs 15 (Phil Waugh, Josh Holmes tries; Daniel Halangahu conversion, Berrick Barnes penalty goal) defeated CA Brumbies 7 (Adam Ashley-Cooper try; Stirling Morltock conversion) at Viking Park, Canberra.
Half time: Waratahs 8-7
Crowd: Approx 4,500

CA Brumbies
1. Salesi Ma’afu
2. Stephen Moore
3. Guy Shepherdson
4. Ben Hand
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Mitch Chapman
7. George Smith
8. Stephen Hoiles (c)
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Toomua
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Alfi Mafi
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper

Reserves
16. Huia Edmonds
17. John Ulugia
18. Justin Harrison
19. Henry Vanderglas
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Tyrone Smith
22. Afusipa Taumoepeau

Waratahs
1. Benn Robinson
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Al Baxter
4. Kane Douglas
5. Cam Jowitt
6. Dean Mumm
7. Phil Waugh (c)
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Luke Burgess
10. Berrick Barnes
11. Nemani Nadolo
12. Daniel Halangahu
13. Tom Carter
14. Lachie Turner
15. Sosene Anesi

Reserves
16. Damien Fitzpatrick
17. Sekope Kepu
18. Hendrik Roodt
19. Chris Thomson
20. Brendan KcKibbin
21. Ben Seymour
22. Locky McCaffrey
23. Dan Palmer
24. Ben Mowen
25. Josh Holmes
26. Alex Rokobaro
27. Dave Dennis
28. Rory Sidey
29. Peter Betham
30. Adam D’Arcy

NEXT GAME:
Investec Bank Super 14: Week One
CA Brumbies v Western Force
Members Equity Stadium, Perth
Friday, 12 February 2010

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