The Melbourne Rebels Super W side has suffered their second defeat of the season, going down to the Brumbies Women side 69-0 at Seiffert Oval.
With both side’s entering the match having not scored a point in the opening round of the 2019 season, the Brumbies were a class above, led by number eight Tayla Stanford and her hat-trick of tries.
For the Rebels, Georgia Page showed great ball carrying and strong tackling in her first start of 2019, while Ash Marsters was a consistent force at the break down and in attack with her strong line breaks.
The Brumbies got off to an ideal start thanks to Tayla Stanford, who picked the ball from an ACT scrum feed only five metres out from the line, and scored the first try of the match under the uprights. Centre Sammi Wood added the points to give the hosts a 7-0 start.
Fullback Rachel Crothers reinforced the Brumbies lead when she picked a line through a defensive hole and showed great pace to evade the chasing tacklers to score a try. Wood converted coolly to give the Brumbies a 14 point lead.
Wood was again in the thick of the action only moments later when the centre toe-poked a knock on from Courtney Frankl on the 22.
Wood was brought down by Frankl in the try area chasing the ball, leaving referee Brodie Ingram no choice for but to award a penalty try.
In the 20th minute, Stanford added her second try of the game after breaking through the Rebels’ defensive line to score after 50-metre running solo effort.
Wood converted comfortably to extend the margin 28 points.
Stanford was again prolific when she scored her third try of the match moments later after another scintillating line break run down the wing, making the score 33-0.
After a period of solid defending and good multi-phase attacks by the Rebels, a quick lapse at the breakdown from the Melbourne side allowed Remi Wilton to burst over the top of the ruck and run in a 40 metre try under the uprights.
Wood made no mistake to push the result to 40-0, where the score stood at the half time break.
The opening try of the second half went to ACT when Michelle Perry was left alone on the open side after the Brumbies produced a series of rolling mauls near the touch line.
Wilton scored her second try of the game moments later in identical circumstances to her first try from the ruck, albeit only from 15 metres out this time.
Wood converted again to leave the score at 50-0.
The Rebels pressed hard, possessing multiple forward phases in what looked to be their most promising forward thrust yet. However, a further two tries to Brumbies duo Perry and Crothers stifled any momentum.
A last minute try to replacement winger Darcy Read capped off a prosperous day for the home side and left the Melbourne side to ponder ahead of the Rebels' final home match of the season against the Rugby WA Women team on Friday.
