Almanac Rugby: Super Rugby Pacific Round 11

 

 

 

 

Chiefs 27 v Reds 25
Blues 22 v Force 18
Highlanders 27 v Drua 24
Waratahs 24 v Crusaders 21
Rebels 26 v Moana Pasifika 22
Brumbies 42 v Hurricanes 25

 

 

Friday night seemed an ominous portent of another weekend of humiliation for Aussie teams by our friends across the Tasman. By Sunday afternoon, local rugby fans were grinning like Cheshire cats and crowing ‘we’re back, baby’.

 

Both the REDS and FORCE put up stirling performances and had chances to win their games in overtime. Even though the CHIEFS and BLUES got their four points, they knew they had both dodged bullets.

 

The DRUA hosted their first game in Suva and thrilled the locals with hard running, exciting rugby. The HIGHLANDERS weren’t fancy but grateful for a rare win.

 

There was a good sized crowd at Leichhardt Oval for the Saturday twilight game, including yours truly. Standing on the hill at a ground I hadn’t been to since watching schoolboy rugby league 40 years ago, the sense of expectation built after two early tries by the WARATAHS.

 

The inevitable rally by the CRUSADERS made the second half a war of attrition as wave after wave of attacks by the visitors were repelled by a wall of blue. The relief was palpable when the locals held on to notch up their best win in many years.

 

MOANA PASIFIKA got to play another game when they took on the REBELS in Melbourne. Another tight game, but another win for the Aussies.

 

The torch-bearers for Aussie rugby, the BRUMBIES, didn’t disappoint with a complete performance against the HURRICANES on Sunday in Canberra.

 

With the disappointment of the Super Round still lingering, to see our five local teams each turn up to play and put in this past weekend is intensely gratifying. Hopefully, that’s just the start and the trans Tasman rivalry that forms the remainder of the competition will be a showcase for the game played in heaven.