 | SUPER 12 FIXTURES Chiefs 24-22 Bulls Crusaders 24-9 Stormers Waratahs 28-29 Highlanders Brumbies 46-25 Hurricanes Cats 23-47 Queensland |
The ACT Brumbies and Canterbury became the first sides to reach the semi-finals of Super 12 in Saturday's action. The Brumbies ran in seven tries to beat Wellington 46-25 in Canberra.
And the Crusaders overcame Western Stormers 24-9, despite having to play 49 minutes with 14 men.
Otago staged an amazing comeback to beat New South Wales 29-28, leaving both sides with slim hopes of making the play-offs with one round remaining.
The Hurricanes made a flying start against the Brumbies with early tries by fullback Brent Ward and winger Hosea Gear helping them to a 18-7 lead after 16 minutes.
But the hosts piled on 34 unanswered points with two tries from captain Stirling Mortlock and additional touchdowns from Jeremy Paul, Clyde Rathbone, Mark Chisholm, Stephen Larkham and Mark Gerrard.
And the win leaves the Brumbies two point clear at the top of the table.
In Canterbury, Crusaders number eight Mose Tuiali'i was sent off after 31 minutes for attempting to headbutt an opponent and the home side trailed the Stormers 9-8 at half-time.
But All Blacks duo Daniel Carter and Caleb Ralph scored tries as the Crusaders scored 16 unanswered points after the break.
Carter scored the pick of the tries, breaking from the Stormers' 22 in open play and beating Chris Roussow and De Wet Barry before touching down near the posts.
The Waratahs appeared to have their match in Sydney under control when they opened up a 28-7 lead early in the second half.
The Highlanders were then reduced to 14 men when Filipo Levi was sent off, but his team notched 22 points to snatch the lead four minutes from time.
They still seemed destined to lose when they conceded a last-minute penalty, but Matt Burke's kick hit the upright.
Matt Saunders scored two tries for the Highlanders while replacement Sam Harding and Anton Oliver crossed for one apiece.
Simon Kasprowicz, Morgan Turinui and Scott Staniforth scored tries for the Waratahs.
And Queensland Reds boosted their confidence ahead of next weekend's derby against the Waratahs with a comprehensive 47-23 win over the Golden Cats in Bloemfontein.
The match was of little significance between the two bottom-of-the table sides.
But Chris Latham, who scored one of their six tries, was happy with the outcome.
"Everything we tried in matches during the last couple of weeks seemed to go wrong," said the full-back. "It came right today, and, after the win against the Sharks last week, we're feeling good going into the Waratahs match."
Friday's action saw Waikato remain on course for a first appearance in the play-offs after a 24-22 win over South Africa's Northern Bulls.
First-half tries from Sam Willard, Bakkies Botha and Ettienne Botha saw the Bulls take a 19-3 lead.
But tries from Michael Collins and Jono Gibbes either side of half-time kept the Chiefs in the game and the Bulls paid for their indiscipline when forwards Piet Krause and Jacques Cronje were yellow-carded in the final quarter.
A Derick Hougaard penalty gave the Bulls a 22-18 lead, before Glen Jackson's penalty made it 22-21 after Krause's misdemeanour.
Replacement David Hill clinched victory with another penalty from Cronje's offence.
Carlos Spencer inspired Auckland to a 37-26 win over the Sharks in Durban that keeps the champions' hopes of making the semis alive.
The victory takes the Blues fifth in the table with one round left.
MMIX
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