The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Runners have continued their perfect season in 2024 as the side has dominated at GIO Stadium this afternoon with a 65-0 win over Hong Kong China.
To open the scoring for the afternoon Brumbies number 10 Declan Meredith found himself skipping across the face of Hong Kong's defensive line until the electric back managed to sniff out a chance. With a swift step and a dummy pass, Meredith breezed straight past the visitors defensive line to get a quick try for his side. Converting his own try the Brumbies were off to a 7-0 lead early.
Just minutes later after making a break up the right sideline, Brumbies halfback Klayton Thorn made a dash for a few metres of his own before putting boot to ball with grubber that winger Ben O'Donnell would plant down in the in-goal after winning the foot race against Hong Kong. Converted from the sideline by Meredith the Brumbies would find themselves a 14-0 lead.
Later in the half, after continuing to mount pressure over the away side an overlap presented itself for the Runners on the right wing, noticing this the Brumbies fired off a pass to the right sideline from midfield to a patient O'Donnell who scored his second five-pointer of the match.
Seemingly unstoppable, the home side would continue their dominant run through Hudson Creighton collecting a short ball close to the Hong Kong try-line and barging through for the Brumbies fourth try in the opening half. Converted by Meredith the kicker was now 3 from 4 and extended his sides lead to 26-0.
Sharing some of the scoring to the forwards, the Brumbies would then nab an extra try shortly after, barging through multiple defenders with the starting pack proving to be wrecking balls close to the line. Feeling flashy in the first 40 minutes, the Brumbies would then escape their own half with ease by heading back to their ever reliable successful right side. With a passes snapping to and from the Runnerrs, it was Nate Carrolll who would complete the long distance effort.
On the verge on halftime winger O'Donnell would cement his first half hat-trick as the winger once again alerted his side of some open space which was promptly capitalised on with a pinpoint chip kick landing in the visitors in-goal just waiting two be put down by a Brumby. Following the effort, Brumbies would go into the sheds with a 39-0 lead over the Hong Kong side.
Picking up where he left off, dominant flyhalf Meredith found his was through the Hong Kong defence yet again just minutes into the second half bringing the Brumbies to a 44-0 lead.
Keeping up with his fellow Brumby O'Donnell's try tally, Declan Meredith would also manage to break through once again for his third try of the afternoon after slipping past the Hong Kong defence and darting for a five-pointer under the sticks. Converting his own effort once again the Brumbies were ahead 51-0 with just over 20 minutes to play.
In the 70th minute of play the Brumbies would fall back into their try-scoring ways through Austin Anderson sprinting through to the right corner after finding an overlap giving a chance for the centre to show off his blinding speed. Converted by a fresh on the field Clay Uyen the runners held a 58-0 lead with 10 minutes to play.
In the 79th minute, Sila Titiuti would then capitalise on another dominated scrum from the Brumbies and find his way across the line to finish the scoring for the evening with Clay Uyen converting to add to the final tally of 65-0.
The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Runners 65 (Tries: Declan Meredith 3, Ben O'Donnell 3, Hudson Creighton, TBC, Nate Carroll, Austin Anderson, Sila Titiuti; Conversions: Declan Meredith 3, Clay Uyen 2) def. Hong Kong China 0
