Cape Town - The Rebels were far too strong for the Sunwolves in Friday's Super Rugby clash in Melbourne, emerging 40-13 winners.
The Sunwolves, coming off consecutive wins against the Reds and Stormers, were plucky and scored the first try of the match inside the opening three minutes, but the Rebels were a more complete side and soon took control.
At half-time the hosts led 21-13, but they took the game away from the Sunwolves in the second half.
By the time they were done, the Rebels had scored six tries to just one from the Sunwolves thanks largely to a hat-trick from Marika Koroibete.
The result sees Dave Wessels's men stay second in the Australian Conference, just one point behind the Waratahs having played a game extra. They also move above the Sharks on the Combined log and into the playoff places.
The Sunwolves, meanwhile, are still bottom of both the Australian Conference and the Combined log.
Scorers:
Rebels 40 (21)
Tries: Marika Koroibete (3), Jack Maddocks (2), Amanaki Mafi
Conversions: Reece Hodge (5)
Sunwolves 13 (13)
Try: Loman Lemeki
Conversion: Hayden Parker
Penalties: Parker (2)
Teams:
Rebels
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Reece Hodge, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman (captain), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Fereti Sa’aga
Substitutes: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Tayler Adams, 23 Sefa Naivalu
Sunwolves
15 Jason Emery, 14 Lomano Lemeki, 13 Michael Little, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Hosea Saumaki, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Edward Quirk, 7 Shunsuke Nunomaki, 6 Grant Hattingh, 5 Shinya Makabe, 4 James Moore, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Craig Millar
Substitutes: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Keita Inagaki, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Sam Wykes, 20 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Harumichi Tatekawa, 23 Semisi Masirewa