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          Super Rugby W's Super Moments RD 5: Rebels finally taste victory

          • Brittany Mitchell, ESPN Assistant EditorApr 14, 2024, 08:09 PM
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              Brittany Mitchell has been a sports fan from an early age, with a keen interest in netball, cricket and rugby. Brittany interned at Rugby Magazine and the Australian Rugby Union before joining ESPN.
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          And just like that the Super Rugby Women's regular season is over with the Waratahs maintaining their unbeaten run to top the table.

          But it was the Melbourne Rebels securing just their second win ever that headlined the weekend as they downed the Fijian Drua to close out their season.

          Meanwhile, the Brumbies and Force played out a tight encounter with the Force coming out on top, but still unable to book their first ever home semifinal.

          Read on for four super moments in Super Rugby Women's Round 5.

          REBELS FINALLY BREAK FOUR YEAR DROUGHT

          They've come close so many times before, but on Saturday night the Melbourne Rebels finally tasted victory for the first time in four years and just their second time since Super Rugby Women's kicked off seven years ago.

          For so long the Rebels had been threatening to produce the boilover win, coming close to downing the Brumbies multiple times over the years, while they pushed the Waratahs to the limit just two weeks ago. Finally, in their most put together performance yet, they stunned the Fijian Drua with 80-minutes of courageous rugby.

          It was only right that captain Ash Marsters would lead the way and seal the win for her team, scoring a double through some quick thinking and rampaging runs as well as her hard hitting in defence. Her first coming off the back of a quick tap five metres from the line which saw her dive under the posts almost untouched, while her second came in the final minute, as she squirrelled over the line from the back of the ruck centimetres from the line.

          There were so many standout moments from the match; a 50:22 from Cassie Sitaga in the 49th minute to pile the pressure on the Drua; Mel Kawa's amazing back of the hand flick pass to Chanelle Kohika-Skipper for the try in the corner; and prop Jiowana Sauto's effort to reach out and dot it down for a try.

          But nothing stood out more than the scenes of jubilation from the players and squad members after the referee called the end of the match and they finally ended their winless drought. The bench cleared and extended squad members took to the pitch alongside support staff to celebrate a famous victory with the players.

          DRUA GO COAST TO COAST

          While the Rebels took the spoils on Saturday, the Drua certainly put on a show of their own with some enterprising play and stunning tries, including fullback Atelaite Buna's first of the night.

          As the Rebels came rampaging down on the Drua's line, quick as a flash it was defence into attack with a loose Rebels carry seeing the ball spill into the Drua's in-goal, and instead of taking the safe option of sending the ball to touch with a clearing kick, they spotted the space out wide and started charging downfield.

          Just three passes were all it took for the Drua to go from behind their posts to the right wing and get the ball into the hands of their destructive fullback who swerved and curved her away around the defence, going close to 80-metres untouched to score.

          Her second was just as impressive as she scooped up a loose ball 15-metres inside the Drua's territory to runaway untouched yet again and score under the posts.

          There's no doubt she'll be a handful yet again in her side's semifinal against the Force next week in Fiji.

          HALSE DOES IT ALL HERSELF

          It was a very scrappy affair for the Waratahs on Friday night as they struggled to find consistency following a fast start, but Caitlyn Halse showed once again why she's a Wallaroo of the future with an incredible runaway try.

          Like a thief in the night, Halse did incredible work to not only hold Reds replacement wing Alana Elisaia up in the tackle, but also showcased her strength to rip the ball out of her arms in the tackle, to charge 70-metres down the sideline and swan dive over the line in the corner.

          Her second try of the year, she made sure to make it a good one.

          But the 17-year-old could be spending the early stages of the week sweating on a potential judiciary call after an ugly cleanout that left Reds wing Dianne Waight clutching her knee and eventually carried from the pitch. Pulling Waight down from the side, Halse trapped the flyer's leg underneath her as she rolled her in what looked like a crocodile roll cleanout.

          Only three weeks ago we saw England's Sarah Beckett banned for three-matches after she broke Italy centre Michela Sillari's leg in a croc roll.

          Halse and the Waratahs will be hoping she won't be facing the same consequences with their semifinal clash against the Brumbies on Friday night.

          A DAY FOR THE HOOKERS

          It was a weekend of runaway tries with Brumbies fullback Ashlea Bishop scoring an electric intercept try in the dying minutes of her side's loss to the Force on Saturday. But a hooker scoring a hat-trick has to be highlighted.

          Tania Naden had a day for the Brumbies, clawing her team back into the contest in the first half with tries in the 23rd and 29th minute, before she touched down yet again in the second half with a run down the right flank to finish a beautiful team play.

          The centre turned hooker is no stranger to the tryline and showed she's got plenty of tricks up her sleeve, using her step to work her way around the defender metres from the line for her first, while her second came from a well worked rolling maul.

          Not to be outdone, the Force's hookers scored doubles of their own with Hera-Barb Malcom Heke crashing over twice in the first half, before Canada international Sara Cline scored her own in the second half.