Hat-trick for Mafi as Reds go top

THE REDS regained top spot in Super Rugby AU with a 46-14 victory that condemned the Waratahs to a fifth-straight defeat.

A late hat-trick for Alex Mafi made the scoreline appear uglier for the Tahs, as Brad Thorn’s side outscored their opponents by seven tries to one to claim the Bob Templeton Cup.

Given a shot in the arm by the visit of Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie to their camp earlier this week, the Waratahs enjoyed all the territory in the opening ten minutes and found themselves 6-0 up through two penalties for Will Harrison.

But the Reds began to pick up steam and scored three unanswered tries in the first-half through livewire Tate McDermott, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Filipo Daugunu.

Having led 22-9 at the break, the restart saw tighthead powerhouse Taniela Tupou fed the ball wide open on the left wing and free to bulldoze his way over the line.

A Will Harris try in the 53rd minute kept the Waratahs trailling by less than two scores, but a late flurry of tries by replacement hooker Mafi sealed the Tahs’ fate.

Brumbies had momentarily sat at the top of the standings following their 42-14 win over the Force on Friday.

A rout had looked to be on the cards when a Len Ikitau double and tries for Caderyn Neville and Andy Muirhead gave the Brumbies a 28-0 lead..

But the Force, missing Rob Kearney and Richard Kahui, rallied to have Henry Taefu receive an offload from Tevita Kuridrani to score.

Lachlan Lonergan and a second try for Muirhead helped the Brumbies stay in control, with skipper Ian Prior getting on the trysheet for the Force.