Brumbies end troubled South Africa tour on high

ACT Brumbies of Australia ended a troubled South African tour on a high with a 40-27 victory over bottom team Central Cheetahs Saturday.

The Canberra-based franchise lost to the Golden Lions and Coastal Sharks and forward Shawn Mackay was seriously injured when hit by a car in Durban, where laptops, mobile phones and other belongings were stolen from the team hotel.

A bonus-point victory lifted the Brumbies four places to eighth on the southern hemisphere championship standings while the Cheetahs remain rooted to the bottom with only two points from seven outings.

After each team scored 13 first-half points, the match was decided within four minutes early in the second half at Vodacom Park with the Cheetahs having a try disallowed and the Brumbies responding by crossing the line twice.

Australian referee Matt Goddard ruled a Cheetah offside before right wing Denwel Demas dived over in the corner, but television replays suggested the official erred.

Brumbies full-back Matt Gerrard then displayed footwork Cristiano Ronaldo would have approved as he kicked the ball several times before beating hooker Adriaan Strauss to the touchdown.

A couple of minutes later and the Brumbies snatched another try as slick handling among the forwards and a clever pass from captain George Smith sent replacement lock Peter Kimlin in.

Centre Stirling Mortlock converted both tries in a flawless place kicking display and the Brumbies took a 27-13 lead that was never seriously threatened on a warm, overcast afternoon in the central city.

Even the expulsion of flanker Smith to the 'sin bin' on 62 minutes for obstructing replacement forward Kabamba Floors failed to rouse the Cheetahs, playing at home for the first time this season.

The home side did finish with a flourish as a multi-phase movement after the final hooter sounded ended with loose forward Wayne van Heerden diving over in the corner.

Fly-half Jacques-Louis Potgieter also reserved his best for last, converting from the touchline after early missing three ambitious penalty attempts, including two late in the first half with the teams level.

Fly-half Christian Lealiifano, Gerrard, Kimlin and scrum-half Josh Holmes scored tries for the Brumbies, Mortlock converted all four and kicked two penalties, and Lealiifano and Gerrard dropped goals.

Wing Jongi Nokwe, Demas and Van Heerden were the try scorers for the Cheetahs with Potgieter converting them all and kicking two penalties at one of four venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.