Way to go, Highlanders

Otago beats Queensland for last Super 12 semi berth

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) -- Otago qualified for the Super 12 rugby unioan semifinals Saturday and eliminated Queensland from post-season play, beating the Reds 40-26 at Carisbrook.

The win moved the Highlanders into fourth spot and a semifinal date next Saturday with first-place Canterbury. New South Wales will play the ACT Brumbies in the other semifinal next weekend at Sydney.

Queensland, which has never won a Super 12 match in Dunedin, led 10-3 after Reds fullback Chris Latham scored his ninth try of the season.

However, the Highlanders pack dominated the rest of the game with their outstanding ball retention as they dominated territory and possession statistics.

Flankers Taine Randell and Craig Newby scored first-half tries for the Highlanders with centers Paul Steinmetz and Ryan Nicholas crossing after the break.

The Highlanders led 35-19 but the conversion of Latham's 10th try of the season cut the deficit to nine points before Nicholas clinched the victory with the Highlanders' fourth five-pointer.

Stand-in five-eighth Willie Walker kicked 20 points for the Highlanders.

Super 12 Semifinals Crusaders (NZ) vs Highlanders (NZ) Waratahs (Aus) vs Brumbies (Aus) Super 12 at a Glance

Queensland's Elton Flatley landed all six of his shots at goal for a 14-point tally which gave him 148 for the season and lifted him, at least temporarily, to the position of top point scorer in the tournament.

Queensland's season tally of 34 points was the most scored by a team which missed out on the semifinals.

The Reds finished with one more win and two more points than last year when they made the semifinals.

Scores: OTAGO 40 (Taine Randell, Craig Newby, Paul Steinmetz, Ryan Nicholas tries; Willie Walker conversion, 6 penalties) def. QUEENSLAND 26 (Chris Latham 2 tries; Elton Flatley 2 conversions, 4 penalties).

Crusaders 96, Waratahs 19

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) -- Canterbury finished the Super 12 rugby union season undefeated and set a tournament record in the process, beating New South Wales 96-19 at Jade Stadium on Saturday.

The previous largest Super 12 winning margin was 64 points, set by the ACT Brumbies against the Northern Bulls in 1999. The Crusaders almost eclipsed that in just the first half, running in nine converted tries for a 63-0 halftime lead.

They finished with 14 tries which was also a Super 12 record, beating the old mark of 11 set by the Auckland Blues in 1998. Superboot Andrew Mehrtens finished with 13 conversions from 14 attempts, beating the previous record of nine.

In what was a possible Super 12 grand final matchup, the Waratahs offered no opposition to the rampaging Crusaders, who ran in try after try at will.

Winger Caleb Ralph collected four tries -- equaling the Super 12 record for a match -- while No.8 Scott Robertson, winger Marika Vunibaka and fullback Leon McDonald crossed for twice apiece.

Scores: CANTERBURY 96 (Marika Vunibaka 2, Greg Feek, Justin Marshall, Caleb Ralph 4, Scott Robertson 2, Aaron Mauger, Leon McDonald 2, Daryl Gibson tries; Andrew Mehrtens 13 conversions) def. NEW SOUTH WALES 19 (Francis Cullimore, Marc Stcherbina, Des Tuiavii tries; Matthew Burke 2 conversions).

Stormers 31, Bulls 27

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- The Stormers gave veteran winger Pieter Rossouw the victorious send-off he wanted Saturday, as they beat the Bulls 31-27 in a hard-fought Super 12 encounter at Newlands stadium.

The Bulls finished bottom of the tournament log, failing to win a single match, but were able to outscore South Africa's best Super 12 side by four tries to three as they saved their best performance of the season for their final game.

Rossouw, who has been in sparkling form throughout the season, played his last match at Newlands before leaving to join London Irish.

He was given a rapturous reception by the fans as he scored the Stormers' first try of the match 10 minutes into the second half.

It was the spark the Stormers needed, and center Marius Joubert grabbed the opportunities which started coming their way with a brilliant individual try just eight minutes later as he carved through a succession of despairing tackles to score under the poles.

The Bulls hit back three minutes later with a fine try by winger Giscard Pieters, before Joubert scored his second try out wide.

Persistent pressure from the Bulls got them back to within a single point with 10 minutes to go as Wylie Human scored a try for a bonus point.

But Percy Montgomery, who cemented his reputation as the best South African fullback this season, kicked a penalty with three minutes to go to cement the narrow victory.

"I played my rugby for a great team, at a great stadium and in front of wonderful crowds, and I'm looking forward to my time as a player and helping coach the backline at London Irish," Rossouw said after the match.

He also said he would like to return to South Africa as a coach if his venture in England was successful.

The Bulls, who leaked tries and points throughout the season, came away with two points from the match, which doubled their haul for the whole tournament.

Scorers: STORMERS 31 (Pieter Rossouw, Marius Joubert 2 tries; Percy Montgomery 2 conversions; Montgomery 3 penalties) def. BULLS 27 (Victor Matfield, Johan Roets, Giscard Pieters, Wylie Human tries; Franco Smith 2 conversions; Smith penalty)

 

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