The NSW Waratahs Women remain undefeated and on top of the Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s ladder after defeating the Melbourne Rebels Women 38-17 at Allianz Stadium.
After scoring five tries in her previous two matches, flying winger Maya Stewart opened the home side’s account in just the ninth minute of play after a series of swift and crisp passes in the backline stretched Melbourne’s defence.
The Rebels hit back with a penalty goal to Cassie Siataga, but the Tahs replied swiftly, with a sublime ball by flyhalf Arabella McKenzie 10 metres out from the Melbourne try line allowing outside centre Georgina Friedrichs to split the visitor’s defence.
Some silky ball-playing from loosehead prop Brianna Hoy then put NSW further in front. Hoy threw a beautiful cut-out pass 60 metres out to send Friedrichs, and in turn winger Desiree Miller racing away. Miller then found Hoy in support, who popped a lovely short ball to Miller to cross.
Stewart wrapped up a dominant first half by the Tahs with her second try after a quick tap by halfback Layne Morgan caught the Rebels defence napping. McKenzie’s conversion from close to the right-hand touchline gave NSW a 24-3 half-time advantage.
Like her wing partner, Miller also notched a brace to start the second stanza, when Morgan cleverly elected to attack the blindside off an attacking scrum win.
Melbourne then steadied the tide with back-to-back tries to Anastasia Mamea and Jayme Nuku, but the Waratahs sealed the victory with a barge-over try to Emily Robinson. McKenzie’s conversion took the final score out to 38-17.
Despite the comprehensive scoreline, Head Coach Mike Ruthven expected more from his ladder-leading women.
“I’m disappointed with the performance tonight,” Mike Ruthven said bluntly.
“We didn’t control the narrative around the result tonight. We definitely invited Melbourne into the game and that’s really frustrating from our perspective with the expectations and the standards that we have within the side.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do during the week to make sure we have a far better performance against the Force next week.”
