The Melbourne Rebels have overcome an ugly first half to continue their Super Rugby unbeaten run with a 29-26 win over the Brumbies at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Young Wallabies winger Jack Maddocks scored two tries among their haul of four in the second half as the home side pegged back a 19-3 halftime deficit.
His second try in the 70th minute, touching down after a long ball from Quade Cooper, gave them the lead for the first time in the match.
It came after the Rebels pounded the tryline for 10 phases and then took a quick tap for the star five-eighth to find his man.
The Rebels turned in a shocker in the opening 40 minutes, with both lock Adam Coleman and prop Matt Gibbon yellow-carded; the latter handing the Brumbies a penalty try after the halftime siren.
While they benefited from a 10-3 penalty count, the Brumbies also deserved the lead as they didn't allow the Rebels' star-studded backline to find any rhythm.
Playing his first match since a round one hip injury, winger Henry Speight opened the scoring in the 18th minute when he managed to find the line despite the best efforts of Marika Koroibete.
Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga'a also barrelled across from the back of a maul to help set up a commanding lead.
But the Rebels came out a different side in the second half and after a long ball from Quade Cooper, Koroibete muscled his way over.
They cut the lead to four points when Maddocks scored his first try of the night, which was converted by Cooper.
The Brumbies extened their lead again after a 60th minute try to exciting young flanker Rob Valetini but the home side had too much finishing power.
In vintage form, halfback Will Genia darted over from the back of the scrum before Maddocks' match-winner.