BEN SMITH FELT Highlanders were rewarded for their persistence after the Super Rugby champions produced a display of defiance to beat Brumbies 23-10 at Rugby Park today.
Lima Sopoaga scored a try on the stroke of half-time and also added 13 points with the boot, while Smith crossed early in the second half before Josh Mann-Rea came up with Brumbies’ solitary try in Invercargill
Brumbies saw plenty of the ball, but Highlanders were rock solid in defence as they ended a two-game losing run.
Highlanders co-captain Smith said: “We just stuck at it tonight, it didn’t always go the way we wanted but the boys got the job done in the end. The Brumbies had a lot of momentum but couldn’t turn it into points. We were lucky enough to keep them out.”
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Blues outscored Australian Group leaders Rebels by six tries to four to win a classic 36-30 at Eden Park — a game in which Irish international prop Jamie Hagan made his first Super Rugby start.
It all started so well for Rebels, with Reece Hodge scoring an early try following a stray pass from new Blues captain James Parsons.
Parsons made amends with a try of his own and former skipper Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina and Ihaia West also touched down before a Jordy Reid try ensured Blues trailed 24-18 at half-time.
Tries from Tevita Li and Lolagi Visinia gave the Blues a commanding 36-18 lead, with scores from Colby Fainga’a and Sefa Naivalu proving to be in vain for the Rebels.
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Nick Frisby helped himself to a double as Reds saw off Cheetahs 30-17 for only their second win of the season.
The two sides were level at 10-10 at half-time after Curtis Browning crossed just before the break following a powerful scrum after Uzair Cassiem had scored the opening try for Cheetahs.
Reds took a grip of the game at Suncorp Stadium courtesy of a Frisby double, with Jake McIntyre scoring 15 points with the boot, but they were under the pump after Liam Gill was yellow-carded and there was also concern when Samu Kerevi was replaced due to a wrist injury.
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Victory for Highlanders puts them fourth in the Australasian Group, while Brumbies have work to do as they sit sixth. Rebels remain top of the Australian Conference, just two points better off than Brumbies.
Blues are just one point behind Brumbies in the Australasian Group with a game in hand, while Reds are second bottom despite their win over Cheetahs.
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