Day 1 of the Australian Schools Rugby Union National Championships started on Monday at St. Ignatius College at Riverview.
There were some tight games and some exciting rugby but the boys were up against it in the cold windy conditions in Sydney.
NSW II 18 — ACT 17
by “Lee Grant”
It was easy to see the effect of the conditions as lineouts became a lottery unless the ball was thrown to the front.
First half
NSW looked ready for a good day at the office when they were down near the ACT line after a scrum penalty. After a few pick and goes the ACT found themselves without a pillar defender and 9 Nicholas Duffy did a graceful dive over the line for NSW to take the lead. But the conversion attempt was one of many to miss on the day and NSW lead 5-0 in as many minutes.
There was a lull in the scoring as player got used to each other but eventually 7 Declan Moore charged through for NSW. From the breakdown Duffy cleared the ball to 5 Will Finley who dished to 13 Simon Kennewell, who got a miracle pass to winger Jordan Thomas who scored out wide. It was good ball play under the conditions and NSW led 10-0 at 25 minutes.
After 15 Jack McGregor kicked a penalty goal for NSW II near the end of the half, 6 Maumau Monu contested the restart kick for the ACT. They got the ball back and 10. Jordan Jackson-Hope ran through the NSW defence which was not set. He scored and when 15 Jordan Fuliva converted it was game on for the ACT with the half-time score at NSW II 13 – ACT 7.
By the end of the half ACT were looking a more confident side despite the the NSW scrum being dominant, which compromised much of the ACT scrum ball.
There were promising moves from both teams but the ball was dropped too often as cold hands tried to pass the ball and catch it.
Second half
There was an arm wrestle for about 20 minutes with players like 8 James Lough and reserve lock Beau Petterson making strong runs, but it was the zestful Jackson-Hope of the ACT who nearly made a breakthrough again with a run and a canny kick through. But the bounce was unkind for him and although the ball got wide for others to handle NSW was able to recover.
It was becoming the proverbial game of two halves: NSW had most of the chances in the first half and the ACT the better opportunities in the second.
But NSW took theirs better and with about ten minutes to go after some high tempo play reserve centre Will McDonnell passed to 14 Thomas Wright who used his magic feet on the run to bamboozle defenders and he ran around under the posts. Even the conversion in front missed but NSW led 18-7 now and it didn’t seem to matter.
Then things changed: ACT finished the game with a wet sail.
They recovered their restart kick as they had once in the first half. The got near the NSW 22 and when Jackson-Hope got the ball wide to Evans he hared down touch and scored in a tackle near the corner. Although there was no conversion the ACT were close as NSW led by only 18-12.
NSW got the ball back with little time left but the ACT turned the ball over and it went to, guess who…Jackson-Hope. With encouragement from the Brumbies tent he aimed himself to where Evans had just scored, but Kennewell hadn’t given up and grabbed him by one leg. Evans got the ball and charged but he stepped on the touchline.
NSW got the lineout ball but lost it soon after and the next thing you know the ACT was attacking the opposite corner in the last play of the game—and reserve back Johnathan Pouono scored.
The tally was 18-17 to NSW and how important now was that missed conversion in front by NSW a few minutes before? Fuliva lined the ball up carefully for the wide conversion but the kicked missed and NSW II won 18-17. How lucky were they?
The players
NSW
In the forwards Finley, Lough and Declan Moore had good runs and defended stoutly. Of the backs the midfield of 13 Kennewell and 12 Joe Williams were influential on defence and attack.
ACT
Flyhalf Jackson-Hope would have been the-of-the-match has there been one nominated and fullback Fuliva was a good attacking custodian. In the pack hooker Timote SiutaTai had a tough game in the tight.
The scoring
NSW II 18 (N. Duffy, J. Thomas, T.Wright tries; J. McGregor pen) def. ACT 17 (J. Jackson-Hope, T. Evans, J. Pouono tries; J. Fuliva con)
See next page for another match report
