Sydney - New South Wales Waratahs centre Tom Carter scored a hat-trick of tries to lead his side to a 33-7 victory over the Higlanders in their Super rugby match on Saturday.
The bonus point victory moved the Waratahs to 52 points on the log and left them still in contention for the top-six playoffs with one match to play next week against the Brumbies.
The loss for the Highlanders, their third in succession, eliminated them from contention. They play the Blues in Auckland next week.
"We got stuck a little bit there after halftime...but to come back and finish the way we did...and get that bonus point was pretty important," Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said.
"We held the Highlanders out...they're a tough team to play and the guys really hung in there well."
Fullback Kurtley Beale produced two pieces of counter-attacking genius to set up the Waratahs' first two tries to Carter and blindside flanker Dave Dennis, who finished off a sweeping 80-metre move.
The Highlanders, who played to their strengths of recycling the ball through phases, had plenty of opportunities to score in the first half but only had a converted try to hooker Jason Rutledge as reward for their efforts.
Carter added his second try in the 38th minute, which Beale converted to give the home side a 19-7 lead at the break that did not accurately reflect the closeness of the first half.
Rain stymied any prospect of a spectacle in the second half with the Highlanders dominating possession and territory but never really stretching the well-organised Waratahs' defence.
Carter then ended the Highlanders' hopes when he scored his third try following a rare raid into the visitors' territory.
Beale then produced another piece of genius when his cross-kick was caught by replacement Josh Holmes who scored under the posts in the 79th minute and allowed Beale to knock over his fourth conversion of the game.
"We probably didn't capitalise, we had a lot of field position, but...turned over the ball at some pretty critical times, particularly before halftime," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said.
"We should have scored more points before halftime and if you don't score points then you can't build pressure and credit to their defence in the second half."
Scorers:
Waratahs - Tries: Tom Carter (3), David Dennis, Josh Holmes. Conversions: Kurtley Beale (4).
Highlanders - Try: Jason Rutledge. Conversion: Tony Brown.
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZL)
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Kurtley Beale 14 Lachie Turner 13 Tom Carter 12 Berrick Barnes 11 Sosene Anesi 10 Daniel Halangahu 9 Luke Burgess 8 Wycliff Palu 7 Phil Waugh [captain] 6 Dave Dennis 5 Sitaleki Timani 4 Dean Mumm 3 Al Baxter 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau 1 Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16John Ulugia 17 Jeremy Tilse 18 Pat O’Connor 19 Chris Alcock 20 Hugh Perrett 21 Josh Holmes 22 Atieli Pakalani
Highlanders:
15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Tony Brown, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain)
Substitutes: 16 Mo Schwalger, 17 Chris King, 18 Nick Crosswell, 19 John Hardie, 22 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Telusa Veainu
The bonus point victory moved the Waratahs to 52 points on the log and left them still in contention for the top-six playoffs with one match to play next week against the Brumbies.
The loss for the Highlanders, their third in succession, eliminated them from contention. They play the Blues in Auckland next week.
"We got stuck a little bit there after halftime...but to come back and finish the way we did...and get that bonus point was pretty important," Waratahs captain Phil Waugh said.
"We held the Highlanders out...they're a tough team to play and the guys really hung in there well."
Fullback Kurtley Beale produced two pieces of counter-attacking genius to set up the Waratahs' first two tries to Carter and blindside flanker Dave Dennis, who finished off a sweeping 80-metre move.
The Highlanders, who played to their strengths of recycling the ball through phases, had plenty of opportunities to score in the first half but only had a converted try to hooker Jason Rutledge as reward for their efforts.
Carter added his second try in the 38th minute, which Beale converted to give the home side a 19-7 lead at the break that did not accurately reflect the closeness of the first half.
Rain stymied any prospect of a spectacle in the second half with the Highlanders dominating possession and territory but never really stretching the well-organised Waratahs' defence.
Carter then ended the Highlanders' hopes when he scored his third try following a rare raid into the visitors' territory.
Beale then produced another piece of genius when his cross-kick was caught by replacement Josh Holmes who scored under the posts in the 79th minute and allowed Beale to knock over his fourth conversion of the game.
"We probably didn't capitalise, we had a lot of field position, but...turned over the ball at some pretty critical times, particularly before halftime," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said.
"We should have scored more points before halftime and if you don't score points then you can't build pressure and credit to their defence in the second half."
Scorers:
Waratahs - Tries: Tom Carter (3), David Dennis, Josh Holmes. Conversions: Kurtley Beale (4).
Highlanders - Try: Jason Rutledge. Conversion: Tony Brown.
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZL)
Teams:
Waratahs:
15 Kurtley Beale 14 Lachie Turner 13 Tom Carter 12 Berrick Barnes 11 Sosene Anesi 10 Daniel Halangahu 9 Luke Burgess 8 Wycliff Palu 7 Phil Waugh [captain] 6 Dave Dennis 5 Sitaleki Timani 4 Dean Mumm 3 Al Baxter 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau 1 Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16John Ulugia 17 Jeremy Tilse 18 Pat O’Connor 19 Chris Alcock 20 Hugh Perrett 21 Josh Holmes 22 Atieli Pakalani
Highlanders:
15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Tony Brown, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain)
Substitutes: 16 Mo Schwalger, 17 Chris King, 18 Nick Crosswell, 19 John Hardie, 22 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Telusa Veainu