Tip-top Brumbies
ACT Brumbies eased to the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference with a 37-6 rout of the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra.
Last Updated: 14/04/12 1:41pm
ACT Brumbies eased to the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference with a 37-6 rout of the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra.
Lock Scott Fardy claimed two of the hosts' five tries as Melbourne crumbled defensively in the face of some impressive running rugby.
Christian Lealiifano and Danny Cipriani traded early penalties but the game came to life after the quarter-hour when centre Pat McCabe brushed aside fellow Wallaby James O'Connor to cross.
Slack tackling on the fringes allowed flanker Michael Hooper and Fardy to put the Brumbies further in control, and things got worse for the Rebels when Gareth Delve was sin-binned.
Ben Mowen crashed through for another five-pointer and although the visitors tightened their rearguard after the interval, there was still the chance for Fardy to grab his second try of the day from close range.
Delve said afterwards: "We just weren't at the races, especially in the first 30, we didn't step up and make our tackles. I thought they played really solid, smart rugby and they'll go well."
