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Red hot Brumbies storm into Super 12 final
Updated: Saturday May 19, 2001 1:46 PM
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- The ACT Brumbies won the right to host next weekend's Super 12 rugby union final with a second-half demolition of Queensland in Saturday's all-Australian semifinal at Bruce Stadium. Leading 7-6 after a defense-oriented first half, the Brumbies piled on 23 unanswered points in the second 40 minutes to grab a 30-6 win and a place in the series decider for the second consecutive season. Owen Finegan, who was sin-binned for 10 minutes in the first half for stomping Reds' hooker Michael Foley, barged over from close-range in the 50th minute to give the Brumbies a match-winning margin of 17-6. Hooker Jeremy Paul ensured the win with a try on 78 minutes when he won a chase to a loose ball and then Wallaby flyhalf Steve Larkham capped the win with a drop goal on fulltime. The outcome ended the Reds' five-match winning stretch, a sequence that boosted the Reds' from next to last in the standings into the final four. The Brumbies, beaten finalists in 1997 and again last year, are now hot favorite to become the first franchise from outside New Zealand to win the Super 12. Brumbies' coach Eddie Jones said his lineup was primed to peak in the final, adding that the experience of losing 20-19 to the Canterbury last season would benefit the veterans in the squad. "We've always been looking at peaking at this time of the year and I think we're doing that and I think we've got another good 80 minutes left in us," he said. Jones admitted Finegan was in serious doubt for the final after collecting his third yellow card of the season. Finegan will face a Super 12 tribunal on Sunday and is likely to receive a one-match suspension. Stirling Mortlock is also expected to be sidelined after injuring his shoulder when he dived over for a try late in the first half which put the Brumbies ahead at the break. Dual rugby international Andrew Walker, who converted the first-half try and then added two penalties and two conversions in the second half, is expected to retain the kicking duties in Mortlock's absence The Reds' only points came off the boot of flyhalf Elton Flatley, who landed a penalty goal in the seventh minute, and his replacement, Shane Drahm, who extended the lead to 6-0 with a penalty in the 37th minute. Flatley had to be helped off the field midway through the first half after receiving a head knock while attempting to tackle Larkham. Scorers: ACT 30 (Stirling Mortlock, Owen Finegan, Jeremy Paul tries; Andrew Walker 3 conversions, 2 penalties, Steve Larkham 1 drop goal) def. QUEENSLAND 6 (Elton Flatley 1 penalty goal, Shane Drahm 1 penalty goal).
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