Overseas round-up

WARATAHS 28, REDS 17 Replacement back Alex Newsome scored a 70th-minute try with virtually his first touch of the ball to give the Waratahs victory over the Reds in Sydney, keeping them within touching distance of the Australian conference-leading Melbourne Rebels.

Ned Hanigan and Curtis Rona also scored tries for the home side, who moved to nine points on the Australian table, three behind the unbeaten Rebels. Both have played three games.

The Reds did not let the Waratahs get too far ahead and tries to Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-sautia and Sefta Naivalu kept them in the game.

Newsome’s decisive try, however, after some strong direct running by both backs and forwards, gave the Waratahs the breathing space they needed as the Brisbane-based side dominated the final 10 minutes but were unable to add to their score.

BLUES 28, SUNWOLVES 20 Winger Rieko Ioane became the 18th player to score a Super Rugby record four tries in a match as he helped the Blues secure their first win of the season, against the Sunwolves at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.

Otere Black kicked a late penalty for the Auckland-based side, who marked last week’s death of former prop Mike Tamoaieta with his player number ‘276’ stitched onto the front of their jerseys.

The Sunwolves won their first match away from home last week against the Waikato Chiefs and never let the Blues get far ahead but were hampered by second half yellow cards to fullback Semisi Masirewa and replacement hooker Nathan Vella.

Flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda scored a try, slotted two penalties and converted both his own and replacement lock Uwe Helu’s second half tries for the visitors.

CRUSADERS 57, CHIEFS 28 Fullback Will Jordan and hooker Codie Taylor both scored two tries each as the Crusaders completed a record-breaking demolition of the Chiefs in Christchurch.

Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Andrew Makalio, Michael Ala’alatoa and Bryn Hall also crossed for the nine-times champions, who surpassed their previous highest score against the Chiefs.

They beat the Hamilton-based side 50-18 in 2005.

Taleni Seu, Etene Nanai-seturo, Jack Debrezcini and Mitchell Brown scored tries for the Chiefs, who have lost all four of their games.

REBELS 29, BRUMBIES 26 Winger Jack Maddocks scored two tries as the Rebels, who spent almost 20 minutes with 14 men, overcame a 19-3 halftime deficit to beat the Brumbies and maintain their unbeaten record this season.

After Marika Koribete started the fightback with a 41st-minute try, Rebels scrumhalf Will Genia, who also scored a try, took control and drove his side around the field.

Rebels lock Adam Coleman and prop Matt Gibbon were both sinbinned late in the first half, with Gibbon’s indiscretion also resulting in a penalty try to the Brumbies and leaving the home side to start the second half with six forwards.

Hooker Folau Fainga’a became the first Brumbies forward to score a try in four consecutive games while Henry Speight and Rob Valetini also crossed for the Canberra-based side.

HURRICANES 25, HIGHLANDERS 22 Beauden Barrett kicked a penalty with time up on the clock to give the Hurricanes victory over the Highlanders in a scrappy clash at Wellington Regional Stadium.

Winger Ben Lam had scored a try that had drawn the home side level at 22-22 while centre Ngani Laumape continued his try-scoring spree, crossing twice to add to the three he grabbed last week against the ACT Brumbies.

Aaron Smith, centre Sio Tomkinson and Liam Coltman scored tries for the visitors, with Marty Banks slotting two conversions in tricky swirling winds. |