'Tahs too strong for Rebels
The New South Wales Waratahs were left singing in the Sydney rain as they posted a 28-9 win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Last Updated: 30/04/11 2:17pm
The New South Wales Waratahs were left singing in the Sydney rain as they recorded a 28-9 win over the Melbourne Rebels.
The Waratahs defied the wet conditions to score three tries through Tatafu Polota-Nau, Dave Dennis and Dean Mumm.
Full-back Kurtley Beale, switched to 15 to make room for the returning Berrick Barnes, converted two of them and also kicked three penalties against the team he will be joining next season.
All the Rebels - who have now lost seven games this season - managed in reply were three penalties, although they had only trailed 10-6 at the break.
Knocked out
Polota-Nau barged over the line for the Waratahs' first try in the 12th minute, though the prop's delight at scoring was to be soured later on when he was knocked unconscious in the second period following a clash of heads.
Full-back Julian Huxley slotted two penalty goals for Melbourne and although Beale added a penalty to his earlier conversion, the gap was only four points at the end of the first half.
Both kickers traded further penalties straight after the break before the 'Tahs cantered clear late on to give the final score a rather flattering look in their favour.
Beale slotted over three more points to open up a seven-point cushion and the win was confirmed when flanker Dennis broke off the back of a rolling maul to just about get the ball over the line on the left.
To rub salt in the wounds of the Rebels, who had lost 43-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Mumm touched down in the 80th minute.
