Match Centre: Super Rugby Pacific: Melbourne Rebels 3-30 Brumbies
Brumbies have started the Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a victory
©PA
Melbourne Rebels 3-30 Brumbies, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Cory Toole and Charlie Cale scored doubles as Brumbies trounced Melbourne Rebels 30-3 in the opening clash of the Super Rugby Pacific at AAMI Park on Friday.
Brumbies made a promising start to the game as Toole sprinted down the sideline and collected his own kick to touchdown in the 4th minute and Noah Lolesio followed with the conversion to make it 0-7.
The winger soon scored his second try as Lolesio found the gap in Rebels' defence and offloaded for Toole to crossover. Lolesio also was spot on with the conversion as the visitors raced to a 14 point lead in the opening quarter.
Rebels were down to 14 players by the 27th minute as Filipo Daugunu was sin-binned for a tip tackle following which Lolesio and Carter Gordon traded penalties making it 3-17.
Brumbies went into the break with a player down temporarily as Len Ikitau was sin-binned for repeated infringement at the breakdown but they still completed the opening half with a 14 point lead.
Taniela Tupou made his way for Brumbies in the second half and they soon got off the block as Cale went past five players to dot down. Lolesio missed out on the conversion but slotted a penalty goal making it 3-25.
Any chance of a comeback from Rebels was out off as Cale completed his second after a wonderful passing move to complete his second try in the closing stage as Brumbies completed a convincing victory.
Team line up:
Rebels: 1. Matt Gibbon, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Josh Canham, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Josh Kemeny, 7. Brad Wilkin, 8. Rob Leota (c), 9. Jack Maunder, 10. Carter Gordon, 11. Glen Vaihu, 12. David Feliuai, 13. Filipo Daugunu, 14. Lachie Anderson, 15. Andrew Kellaway.
Reserves: 16. Alex Mafi, 17. Isaac Kailea, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20. Vaiolini Ekuasi, 21. James Tuttle, 22. Jake Strachan, 23. Nick Jooste.
Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Rhys Van Nek, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Tom Hooper, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Luke Reimer, 8. Charlie Cale, 9. Ryan Lonergan (c), 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Andy Muirhead, 12. Ollie Sapsford, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Corey Toole, 15. Tom Wright.
Reserves: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Blake Schoupp, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. Cadeyrn Neville, 20. Jahrome Brown, 21. Klayton Thorn, 22. Declan Meredith, 23. Tamati Tua.
