Flyhalf Teliya Hetaraka has kicked the Tabcorp Brumbies to a stunning 10-8 victory against the Melbourne Rebels in the side’s final game of the 2021 Super W season today, Saturday 3 July.
The Erindale College student scored the Brumbies lone try late in the second half before slotting a penalty goal with one of the final kicks of the game, the Brumbies finishing on a high when it seemed they would succumb to their third straight defeat in Coffs Harbour.
The Brumbies struggled to get out of their own half for much of the first period, the Rebels maintaining constant pressure inside the Brumbies half with some excellent breakdown work.
After holding the Rebels out for 30 minutes, eventually the breakthrough came for the Rebels, Kelera Ratu crossing in the left-hand corner.
Debutante Ashlea Bishop had a chance to draw to within two points from tee, but her effort was just wide, leaving the score at 5-0 as the teams headed for the sheds.
The Brumbies came out of the blocks with renewed determination, keeping the Rebels pinned in their own territory.
A score would elude the Brumbies until the 65th minute.
Hetaraka spotted some space behind the Rebels defence and put in a testing grubber aimed at Tess Staines. Stained couldn’t latch on, but did brilliantly to keep the ball in, and Hetaraka followed up, gathered, and dived over.
Step up Bishop. The Royals hero wouldn’t miss with her second attempt, splitting the uprights from the difficult conversion, making it 7-5 to the Brumbies.
Disaster would then strike late in the piece, Rebels halfback Georgia Cormick putting the Rebels into the lead from the boot.
The Brumbies were not defeated however and forced a turnover from the kick-off. The Rebels had a crack too many at the breakdown, the penalty came, and Hetaraka stepped up to send the Brumbies to victory, the final score 10-8.
Tabcorp Brumbies 10 (T: T.Hetaraka; C: A.Bishop; P: Hetaraka) def Melbourne Rebels 8 (T: K.Ratu; P: G.Cormick)
