The Melbourne Rebels reaped the rewards of a tough pre-season as they surged home to overcome the NSW Waratahs 33-28 on Saturday in their Super Rugby trial.
With the temperature hitting plus-40 degrees at Albury Sports Ground and the game played in quarters, the Rebels scored three tries in the third period to set up the win.
Melbourne had never previously won a trial game in their three years in the Super Rugby competition but, thanks to a gruelling pre-season campaign under new coach Tony McGahan, they powered home.
Rebel-turned-Tah Kurtley Beale played three quarters in his first match back from a shoulder reconstruction.
The Wallaby utility back rejoined the Waratahs after a tumultuous two years in Melbourne where he battled disciplinary and alcohol-related issues.
His Test season ended in June with a shoulder injury but Beale looked fit in his return and had some nice offloads in a busy game.
Beale played the opening half at five-eighth and then moved to fullback for the third quarter.
Regular NSW fullback Israel Folau, who only recently returned to training due to the Wallabies’ tour in late 2013, ran the water for his team.
Melbourne trailed 21-12 at halftime, with NSW halfback Brendan McKibbin opening the scoring for his team.
The try of the half was set up by Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham, who showed his rugby smarts to take a quick tap from a penalty and grubber the ball downfield.
Halfback Ben Meehan won the 40m race to the ball to close the lead to 14-12.
However, former Wallaby back-rower Stephen Hoiles, playing for a NSW contract, extended that to 19-12 with a try just before halftime.
Bryce Hegarty started at five-eighth for the Rebels in the second half and sparked the attack as he sidestepped his way through for a try.
Fullback Jason Woodward converted and then crossed for a try of his own to give his team the lead for the first time in the match.
Former Waratah Tom English scored after the three-quarter time hooter in his first match for his new team.
Another former Rebel Peter Betham crossed for a late try, converted by Bernard Foley, but the Waratahs couldn’t close the gap.