NSW Waratahs have protected their unblemished record against the ACT Brumbies, beating their biggest rivals for a sixth-straight Super W season with a 24-13 win at GIO Stadium.
An impressive double for winger Maya Stewart and another outstanding display from 16-year-old fullback Caitlyn Halse was exactly what the Tahs needed to see off a gritty Brumbies unit.
The win did not come as easily as their 43-0 rout of the Western Force last weekend, but still took the Waratahs to 2-0 for the season as they look to avenge last year's grand final defeat.
ACT fullback Ashlea Bishop slotted a penalty on 65 minutes to pull the margin back to 17-13 and the Tahs had to withstand a serious late push before Halse broke the ACT defensive line and iced the cake four minutes from time.
Teen sensation Halse backed up her strong debut with another composed display, kicking with precision and creating NSW's opening try, holding up the ball beautifully before hitting Stewart in the corner.
Halse, who based on her first two Super W games seems destined for the heights, said the Tahs had to dig deep to see off the ACT.
"We played really well, we had a rough patch there for a bit but we kept in the fight and came out on top," she told Stan Sport.
"I love playing the game, it's mainly the girls I play with that makes it even more enjoyable on the field, they're a great bunch."
The Brumbies were on the back foot for the bulk of the first half but withstood the Tahs' power with some stout defending, only beaten twice thanks to Halse's gorgeous assist and a splitting run from NSW five-eighth Ella Ryan.
They got over the line themselves with a trademarked Brumbies rolling maul, hooker Tania Naden finding the line after a sustained push.
NSW's backs looked to have a skill and pace advantage but couldn't find the room to work, the Tahs instead dragged into a battle of the middles that the Brumbies were more than ready for.
Stewart took them 17-10 clear on 57 minutes once they finally found some open space, before Halse put the game to bed.
The brutal conditions took their toll on the Brumbies, with gun No.8 Grace Kemp dislocating her kneecap and flanker Edwina Munns-Cook carried from the field with a lower leg injury.
It was another tough loss for the Brumbies, having fallen 12-7 first-up against Fijiana Drua.
