Waratahs trounce Blues
March 24, 2006 - 9:10pm
Story by: Sportal
Peter Hewat in action
Peter Hewat
Australian rugby's forgotten man, Peter Hewat, served another reminder of his value scoring 28 points when the NSW Waratahs trounced the Auckland Blues with a record 43-9 win in the Super 14 match at Sydney's Aussie Stadium on Friday night.
The under-rated Hewat gave a faultless display at fullback scoring a brilliant individual second-half try and landing five penalty goals and four conversions from nine attempts.
Despite his excellent debut season for the Waratahs last year, Hewat was continually overlooked for Test honours by Wallaby coach Eddie Jones.
However, against the Blues, the versatile Hewat underlined his all-round value with a magnificent man-of-the-match display which must have impressed new Wallaby coach John Connolly.
It was another impressive performance from the Waratahs who dominated the match throughout against a spluttering Blues team which failed to control the ball in the greasy, wet conditions.
Apart from its lethal point scoring in attack, the Waratahs' defence was superb and have now only conceded one try in their last three Super 14 games.
The only sour note for the Waratahs was the rib damage suffered to fly-half Mat Rogers in the second half which is likely to sideline him for 2-4 weeks.
NSW led 23-9 at half-time after two pieces of opportunism by Waratahs hooker Adam Freier and winger Lote Tuqiri led to first half tries.
NSW opened the scoring after six minutes when Freier sold an outrageous inside dummy pass to Blues lock Ali Williams to stroll over from 10 metres out.
The Blues hit back in the 18th minute after Waratahs half back Chris Whitaker was penalised at the ruck and centre Luke McAlister landed a 41 metre penalty goal to reduce the margin.
But two minutes later, Hewat restored the seven-point margin with first penalty goal from 38 metres after Auckland was penalised for offside at the line-out.
Hewat and McAlister then traded further penalty goals before Tuqiri caught the Blues asleep after they conceded a penalty inside their quarter.
While the Blues were expecting Hewat to kick for goal, Tuqiri took a quick tap and brushed off the attempted tackle of prop John Afoa to score in the corner and Hewat made no mistake with the sideline conversion.
McAlister landed his third penalty goal two minutes before half-time after Waratahs flanker Wycliff Palu was penalised for a high tackle but Hewat then kicked his third penalty in the dying seconds of the half to give the Waratahs a comfortable 23-9 lead.
Soon after half-time Hewat extended the Waratahs lead to 26-9 with his fourth penalty goal and then landed his fifth penalty in the 58th minute.
Hewat then showed his class after a Waratahs build-up when he grubber kicked behind the defence and received a perfect bounce to regather and race over to score beside the posts.
NSW's final try was scored in the 68th minute when winger Wendell Sailor soared high to gather replacement Daniel Halangahu's cross field kick.
Waratahs 43
Tries: Freier, Tuqiri, Hewat, Sailor
Conversions: Hewat (4)
Penalty Goals: Hewat (5)
Blues 9
Penalty Goals: McAlister (3)
go you good things
