The Queensland Reds Under 20s had a convincing win over the NSW Gen Blues Under 20s at Fairfax Oval on Saturday.
Fielding ten players who left school last year, the NSW lads took the lead early but the Queenslanders were stronger through 80 minutes and more rugby-wise.
First half
The Blues opened the scoring with a penalty from fullback Jack Maddocks who was the opening star for the Blues. Later he cleared off from his 22 on a long gain, and then started another raid that had NSW skipper Jack Hayson scoring in the corner.
The home team led 8-0 at 17 minutes but not everything was going their way: LHP Richie Asiata, hooker Alex Mafi and THP Taniela Tupou had already charged into them a few times and made their mark.
With a quarter of the game gone, and NSW heading north, Reds’ burglar fullback Liam McNamara intercepted a pass and headed south. 8-7 NSW.
The Blues got more chances but goal-line defence was a fine feature of Queensland play for most of the afternoon. The visitors scored next with a penalty and then drew the man when NSW were short on defence. Winger Sam Edwards was the benificiary and scored in the corner; then flyhalf Mack Mason drilled a fine conversion.
Ten minutes before the break the Reds were up 17-8 and that was the score at half-time.
Second half
Queensland were first to score in the second half after they got turnover ball and flanker Maclean Jones charged up the middle for scrummie James Tuttle to score.
NSW responded when Hayson went in for his second try after some pick and goes, but his team dropped their guard after the kick-off and no. 8 Tuaina Tualima scored at the other end. Near the hour mark the Reds were ahead 29-15.
There was some random play after the reserves flooded on but replacement NSW hooker Tom Horton was able to score a try after a lineout drive.
The Reds had scored a penalty before that, and after they parked for a while in the NSW 22 and Tupou made some charges, they elected to take another one to end the game.
Final score: Reds U20s 37 — NSW Gen Blue U20s 22 *
* Give or take a conversion or two.
The wrap-up
The Reds bossed the scrums but the Blues improved their lineouts which were rancid in their trial games.
The big Queensland front rowers caused a bit of havoc but the home players coped well, considering.
Compared to the large cattle the U20 Aussies will be playing against in England, both sides lacked bruisers in the second row and at 6 and 8 in the back row.
Queensland scrum half James Tuttle, the captain of the Queensland Country NRC team, was a class act but the two NSW scrummies Theo Strang and Harrison Goddard, who were at school last year, were not fazed.
The Reds’ 10, Mack Mason who had a year with the Storm leaguies was assured at flyhalf and Tom Molloy did a fine job for NSW considering he was a centre filling in as the pivot, because the Blues had lost their first three flyhalves to injury.
The best players for the NSW were fullback Jack Maddocks who started several raids for his team. Hooker Declan Moore one of the form players of the locals in trials was tough to stop and lock Ryan McCauley looked like he deserved a gold jersey.
The coach
When asked about how his team played, Queensland coach Jason Gilmour said exclusively to Green and Gold Rugby.
It was rock solid, but a little bit scrappy from both teams being Rd. 1. We knew coming down here that NSW would be keen to have a good crack at us they’ve had a couple of good trials against some good club teams down here so we knew physically that they’d be ready to go.
But I’m happy overall to come down here and get the result.
He said that the piggies were the main strength of the team:
Our forward pack laid the foundation as an eight today. Their scrum and lineout set piece work was good. I thought upfront that Richie Asiata and Taniela Tupou really got us the front foot.
He also praised lock Angus Scott-Young and his flankers Maclean Jones and Liam Wright who “worked hard throughout the game.”
As for the backs:
We’re lucky enough to have James Tuttle at half back, who’s in the Reds’ squad; Mack Mason has come back from the Melbourne Storm at 10, and our centres in captain Fred Dorrough and Liam Jurd were rock solid.
Next week Round Two
Friday 4 March – Brumbies Colts (U20s) v Gen Blue U20s, GIO Stadium, Canberra 5.10pm
Saturday 5 March – Queensland U20s v Western Force U20s, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 5.10pm
Photos by Lee Grant
