NZ teams dominate in Super Rugby Pacific

MELBOURNE, Australia, April 24, (AP): New Zealand-based teams again out-performed Australian opponents during the first “Super Weekend” of trans-Tasman matches in Super Rugby Pacific.

The ACT Brumbies beat the Dunedin-based Highlanders 28-17 Sunday to post the only win by an Australian team over a Kiwi rival in five matches over three days at Melbourne’s AAMI Stadium.

None of the matches was a blowout but a gulf between the New Zealand and Australian teams still was apparent, notably in the ability of the Kiwi teams to finish matches more strongly. the Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points in the last 29 minutes, including a third and fourth try for winger Jonah Lowe.

The Auckland-based Blues led the Fijian Drua 28-18 after 59 minutes in a match between the top-ranked New Zealand and lastplaced Australian teams. The Fijian Drua rattled the Blues with their physical approach throughout the match and spent large parts of the second half in Blues territory.