Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

Larkham heaps more misery on Waratahs
Sunday Apr 8 22:44 AEST

Stephen Larkham tormented the NSW Waratahs one last time as the Brumbies surged into the Super 14 top four with a crushing 36-10 victory over their arch-rivals at Canberra Stadium.

The champion five-eighth was in everything as the Brumbies ran in five tries to one to secure their first bonus-point win of the season.

In a dominant display, Larkham set up the first try, was heavily involved in the lead-up to the second, had a hand in the third and scored the fourth and fifth himself.

The 33-year-old's masterful performance lifted the Brumbies above the Western Force into fourth position on the ladder and extended the Waratahs' winless run to eight matches.

Larkham, halfback George Gregan and hooker Jeremy Paul were all playing their final derbies against NSW before finishing their careers overseas and they fittingly finished with a bang, helping the Brumbies snap a four-year losing streak against the Waratahs in stylish fashion.

With Larkham untouchable, the backline on song and dynamic flanker Jone Tawake leading the Brumbies pack, the home team were never seriously threatened.

They made a dream start, with Larkham breaking through some flimsy NSW defence before putting winger Mark Gerrard over for the opening try in just the third minute.

The Waratahs threatened a comeback.....blah blah blah...........But Larkham's tries in the 61st and 72nd minutes, both converted by Gerrard, made it a rout.

The Brumbies have the bye next week before taking on the fifth-placed Force in a potentially decisive round-12 encounter in Canberra.