NSW, Wellington, Sharks win
Otago takes the high road on the table
Posted: Sunday March 14, 1999 12:29 PM
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The Highlanders have scored 40 more points than any other side in the tournament. AP |
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- New Zealand side Otago scored eight
tries to emerge as the early-season offensive threats in Super 12
rugby union, beating South Africa's Western Stormers 46-14.
The win left the Highlanders, who have scored 30 points in
three matches, 40 points more than any other team in the
competition -- in first place with 14 points after three matches,
two ahead of Australian sides Queensland and New South Wales.
Queensland kept pace with a 19-18 win over the Australian
Capital Territory, while New South Wales beat New Zealand's Waikato
36-30.
In other weekend matches, the Coastal Sharks beat the Golden
Cats 36-20 in a battle of South African teams Saturday at
Johannesburg, and Wellington beat the Northern Bulls 37-18
Saturday. Auckland and Canterbury had weekend byes.
On Friday, Romi Ropati scored two tries as the Highlanders beat
the Stormers at Carisbrook It was the home side's third win in a
row, while the Stormers suffered their first defeat in three
matches.
John Daniels scored the Stormers' lone try.
Stormers coach Alan Solomons said he was not happy with some
aspects of the Stormers' play. "We made a lot of mistakes in the
first half and put ourselves under pressure," Solomons said.
In Brisbane, a week of goalkicking lessons earned Queensland a
late win over the ACT, breaking a long-running Super 12 drought
against the Brumbies in Super 12 play.
Queensland was outscored two tries to one but Nathan Spooner,
who managed just two from seven last week, kicked five from six to
give the Reds a 19-18 win, its first over the Australian side in
Super 12.
Spooner reveled in his best performance on the field and with
the boot after 18 months away from the game following a full
shoulder reconstruction.
He still bears the scar around his right shoulder.
"I haven't played for 18 months, I keep saying it and it's
getting boring," said Spooner.
At Sydney, New South Wales, holding a 31-6 lead early in the
second half, held off a late 21-point rush from the New Zealanders
in five minutes.
While Chiefs fullback Matt Cooper was perfect with the boot,
kicking six from six, New South Wales five-eighth Christian Warner
continued his inefficient conversion rate, kicking only four from
10.
The home side had to endure an anxious and panicky final five
minutes as the Chiefs attacked the line after Warner missed two
penalty attempts which could have secured the match.
At Palmerston North, New Zealand on Saturday, the Hurricanes won
their first Super 12 match by beating the Bulls. All Black forward
Christian Cullen scored two tries for Wellington.
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