Super 15: Brumbies cement place at summit

Published on 02/06/2012 02:16

The ACT Brumbies maintained their lead in the Australian Super Rugby conference with a 27-19 win over the Melbourne Rebels yesterday.

The win left the Brumbies with a five-point lead over the defending champions Queensland Reds, and with a favourable schedule to end the season after a month-long break for international Tests.

When the Brumbies resume play at the end of this month, they will play their last three regular season matches against teams with losing records – away encounters against the Western Force and New South Wales and a home game against the Auckland Blues.

First-placed teams in each of the Australia, South Africa and New Zealand conferences qualify for the play-offs. The Reds had already been guaranteed four points by virtue of a weekend bye.

The Brumbies scored the opening try when Andrew Smith crossed in the 25th minute, putting ACT 14-3 up before Julian Huxley kicked two penalties to pull the home side to within five points. Huxley’s fourth penalty pulled the Rebels to 14-12 after 40 minutes.

Robbie Coleman crossed for a converted try in the 52nd as the Brumbies took a 24-12 lead, but Cooper Vuna scored Melbourne’s only try two minutes later, converted by Huxley, to reduce the ACT lead to five points.

Zack Holmes increased the ACT lead back to eight points with seven minutes left with his third penalty.