The melbourne Rebels have put aside their off-field woes to post a 38-12 victory over the NSW Waratahs in their first trial match ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Rebels entered voluntary administration last Monday but the men’s side gave their fans at local Melbourne club Moorabbin something to cheer about on Saturday, stretching their 12-5 half-time lead into a convincing preseason win.
Former Queensland and Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto formed a dangerous first-half combination with youngster Josh Canham, who scored a try and set up another.
Daniel Maiava, who came on in the second row in the second half, posted a double.
Rebels general manager of rugby Nick Stiles said it was a solid performance at the end of a tough week.
“It’s fantastic. It’s the first trial game we’ve won in the last three years,” he said.
“With everything else that’s been going on we wanted to come out and make a…
