The Brumbies have stretched their home record to eight straight after defeating the Cheetahs 61-15 in a one-sided encounter at Canberra Stadium Friday night.
The sixth meeting between the two sides produced plenty of points as the Brumbies secured its first bonus-point win of the Super 14 season.
The Brumbies dominated possession and led 21-3 at the break. The Brumbies’ domination continued in the second stanza, finishing with nine tries to Cheetahs two.
Matt Giteau showed he is hitting form at the right time of the season, converting six from six.
The Cheetahs put in valiant effort despite the withdrawal of Captain Juan Smith who left the Free State side on Thursday to return to South Africa after the death of his father.
The Cheetahs were first to put points on the board when flyhalf Naas Olivier slotted a 38m penalty goal in the fifth minute.
Brumbies’ Captain Stephen Hoiles scored soon after, as the Brumbies capitalised on consecutive Cheetahs penalties.
Losing patience with repeated discretions, New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence sinbinned Cheetahs right flanker Barend Pieterse in the 22nd minute.
The Brumbies failed to apply pressure during Pieterse’s time in the bin continually turning over possession despite working hard to establish valuable position inside the Cheetah’s own 20 metre zone.
The Brumbies finally broke the Cheetahs’ defence when scrumhalf Patrick Phibbs darted through a hole to score, pushing the margin out to 11 points with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
The Brumbies domination of possession wore the Cheetahs down and the side went into half-time up 18 after outside centre Tyrone Smith stormed onto a Giteau pass for the Brumbies third four pointer of the half.
Elsom scored three minutes into the second half after some attacking Brumbies ball movement.
Soon after Cheetahs' reserve Sarel Pretorius scored a soft try against the run of play but Olivier failed to convert.
The Brumbies replied with a perfectly executed a backline movement that resulted in a try to loosehead prop Ben Alexander. Ashley-Cooper scored soon after when a quick penalty tap caught the Cheetahs napping.
Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua followed on from his last minute try to secure his side a valuable 30-23 win over the Chiefs last week, with another four pointer in the 60th minute capping off a big week for Toomua who re-signed with the ACT province until 2012 during the week.
The Brumbies finished the game strongly with two late tries to Alexander, his second, and reserve Alfi Mafi.
The win was especially noteworthy considering the Brumbies went into the week nine match without five key playmakers. Stirling Mortlock (back), scrumhalf Josh Valentine (hamstring, winger Francis Fainifo (fractured fibula), Christian Lealiifano (who this week extended his stay with the club through 2012) and George Smith are all on the Brumbies’ injured list.
Mitchell Chapman left the game in the 13th minute with a hip injury.
The Brumbies head into next week’s clash against the Hurricanes with plenty of confidence as they jostle for a semi-final position on the championship table.
Brumbies 61
Tries: Elsom, Hoiles, Phibbs, Smith, Alexander (2), Ashley-Cooper, Toomua
Con: Giteau 6/6, Huxley 2/3
Pen:
Cheetahs 15
Tries: Pretorius, Strauss
Con: Olivier 0/1, Viljoen 1/1
Pen: Olivier 1/2
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