Day 1 of the 2016 Sebel Australian School Championships started at Riverview yesterday and some cracking rugby was played.
The second game was a stunning upset and the third promised to be another until the last play of the game.
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NSW II 57 – Western Australia 24
by “Covered”
NSW asserted their authority from the start and after mounting sustained pressure 14 Rixon scored. They were controlling possession well when Rixon took a short pass from 9 Jordan 15 metres out to score again.
Speedster Rixon was at it again when he raced clear to find fullback McTaggart backing up on the inside. 22 Harrison’s third conversion made the score 21-0.
On the back of a string of penalties WA turned the tide and gained good field position. From a lineout they formed a rolling maul and crossed for their first try of the match to hooker Hutchins at 25 minutes. 10 McDonald converted to make it 21-7.
A penalty goal by NSW’s 10 Kuenzle edged the score along to 24-7.
WA was looking dangerous now but against the run of play Rixon burned the opposition to score a 90 metre intercept try. 31-7 NSW.
NSW then scored an excellent team try from their own red zone. The ball went through seven sets of hands before 11 Veitch passed to 13 Armstrong to dot down.
Half-time score: NSW II 36 – WA 7.
WA’s McDonald intercepted a pass soon after half time and raced 20 metres to score. 36-14. Then a loose WA pass was scooped up by Veitch, and onto Harrison who raced over next to the posts. 43-14.
WA were defending doggedly but NSW continued to mount pressure. From a ruck near the line a clever flick pass from Jordan found McTaggart who sprinted over. 50-14.
After quick hands from the NSW backs 23 Smeallie delivered the last pass to McTaggart to score hat-trick 57-14.
WA hadn’t give up though. They dominated possession and scored two smart tries; one to 9 O’Sullivan and one to 13 Hardy.
Full time score: 57-24.
At eight tries to four, and with a couple of late tries to WA, it was a very dominant display by NSW.
Scoring:
NSW 57 (Rixon 3, McTaggart 3, Armstrong, Harrison tries; Harrison 6 cons, Rixon con, Kuenzle pen.) def WA 24 (O’Sullivan, Hardy, McDonald, Hutchins, tries; McDonald 2 cons)
Victoria 42 – Queensland I 16
by “Crackerjack”
Love the smell of liniment wafting to the sidelines? The thunder of studded boots galloping onto the paddock? The shrill of the ref’s whistle blowing time-on?!
On paper, this one should’ve been a no-brainer – Victoria fronting the 2016 version of last year’s runners-up? Clearly, no-one gave the Victorians the script, so whatever it was, they just ignored it!
Early on, it wasn’t so obvious to the Queenslanders, nor to the commentariat in the very cheap seats on the hill, but the Vics were here to play!
Early penalties traded, and tries to Victoria’s #22 Lalotoa and Queensland’s speed-machine #11 Eadie, and it was 10-all after 20 minutes.
Victoria’s go-ahead centres, 13 Paisami, and 12 Fa’amausilli, were asking questions of, or making hay through, the corresponding Qld three-quarter channel, and it was hurting the Red Brigade.
The Queenslanders were also losing their own lineouts, especially on long-throw calls, which spelled trouble for the northerners in possession and territoy.
Down deep in the Red 22 before oranges, one of Vic’s best, No.8 Finefeuiaki, was crashed over from an attacking lineout and drive from his seven brother piggies. Vic #9, Turner, who didn’t look like missing all day, slotted the extras.
Half-time score: Victoria 17 – Queensland I 13.
After the break Victoria stepped it up and out-enthused their more credentialed northern cousins.
Further penalties traded, and the Reds’ best, flyhalf Lucas, was trying his hardest to gird his forwards into battle, with sniping runs, deft passing and commendable defence. But the Queenslanders were relieving any pressure built, by handling errors and ruck- and offside-infringements. They just couldn’t afford that.
Vic’s forwards were working as a pack of jackals going in for carcasses, and hooker Kent went in under a log-pile of attention.
Further tries to Vic fullback Donghi, the ‘sealer’ by winger Rigby through the three-quarter channel of arms-only attempted tackles—and another last nail in the coffin to Donghi, freakishly regathering a version of a box-kick to dot down—had the Vics deservedly re-writing history, becoming the first Victorian team to beat any Queensland team.
Final score: Vic 42 – Queensland I 16
NSW I 36 – ACT 27
by “William88”
The first five minutes were closely fought with heavy contact from both sides forcing errors. Winger Mohi saved a try when he intercepted after an ACT break to move NSW back down the northern end of the field.
ACT stole the ball from a lineout, one of their several turnovers for the day, and delivered a skilful try through the hands to winger Maliksauskas out wide.
From the kick-off Kemeney (NSW #6) forced a turnover and Blue moved into the ACT red zone. After a nifty NSW lineout move Mohi sliced through the defensive line to score his first of the day.
From the restart NSW picked up some steam enabling Fenn (#8) and Pietsch (#7) to make big runs downfield. Now in prime field position NSW passed the ball wide to Mohi who to beat his winger outside to score his double. NSW 12-7 after 16 minutes.
Near the break NSW dropped the ball and ACT charged down the right edge for Marshall (#14) to score wide. NSW was disjointed and control was all with the ACT. Hansen (#10) directed the game into the Blue half and was able to kick a penalty goal.
Half-time score: ACT 17 – NSW II 12.
Jaffer-Williams (NSW #14) got a double from his speed, footwork and toughness, and ACT hooker Lonergan scored an excellent team try started by Maliksauskas. Thanks to an earlier penalty goal ACT led 27-26 with a few minutes remaining.
Talk about suspense.
The pressure was all on NSW but when ACT kicked the ball north to them they moved south and reserve fullback Osborne plotted his path through defenders from 30 metres out to score handy.
Final score: NSW I 33 – ACT 27
The ACT team played better as a unit and gave the favoured NSW team the fright of their young lives
The Players
NSW:
Yirribi Jaffer-Williams (14), Jackson Mohi (11) and Michel Fenn (8) were the best on the paddock for NSW and will all likely be in Australian schoolboys teams after their performances today.
ACT:
Hansen(10), Pulefale (12) and Stokoe(13) outplayed their opposite numbers and pushed their case for nominations to the next level, and winger Maliksauskas held his own.
Combined States 31 – Queensland II 12
by “Crackerjack”
Q. You mix skilful Rugby players from all over, of magnificent attitude; toss in passionate coaching staff, ready to work those bestowed to them; and blend in ‘willingness’, ready to embrace opportunities presented? Whaddya get?
In senior ranks, we call them “Barbarians”. In Schoolboys, at Nationals, ‘Combined States’.
After Qld hooker Faessler scored , Combined States (‘CS’) dominated first-half possession and territory.
Led up-front by CBD Skyline-ers (locks Ha’angana and Jeffries), CS played front-foot footy.
Serviced well by CS flyhalf Shannon, classy livewire #12 Orpen had a huge game, running hard himself and feeding his dangerous big bopper #13 Petaia to score meat. #11 Day’s conversion, another kicker today who never looked like missing, levelled the scores 7-7.
25 minutes in, and Qld hadn’t visited CS territory since their earliest pressure and opening score. But off effervescent #7 Sheridan’s hard work, they finally gained some field position. After a tap kick and slick hands the Queenslanders took the lead 12-7 when winger Hicks scored wide.
A penalty brought CS closer but alas for the Queenslanders: they went to sleep through the middle, and Marshall dotted down before the break.
Half-time score: Combined States 17 – Queensland II 12
A sparkling start to CS was made by the only bloke on the field to contest the kick-off: THP Bo Abra, who regathered charging like some some freshly-branded bullock. Queensland were playing like their season hadn’t yet started (nor had it): they knew what they should be doing, but they weren’t executing.
‘Skyline’ #5 Ha’angana, an absolute target in lineouts, deservedly scored meat early off a rolling maul from an attacking lineout. Winger Day’s conversion was inevitable, and CS romped to a 24-12 lead.
CS No.8 Serhorn was playing a veritable Captain’s knock. “Follow me, lads – The middle is ours!” And he had loosies support in spades. #6 Fry, unbeatable at the tackle, and indefatigable in the open plain, was justly rewarded with a try to put the game out of reach of the Queenslanders.
For Queensland II, 10 Matthew McCarthy and winger Callum Hicks were best.
Final score: Combined States 31 – Queensland II 12
The wrap up
Queensland supporters must have been shocked losing both games and perhaps NSW I adherents were too, from their squeaker win.
The northerners perhaps had some excuse because most had played only trials so far this year, not school matches; but if past years are any guide you can bet that the main teams will improve during the week.
That said neither Queensland team can afford to drop either of their next two games, and even then may have to count on a stumble by others to compete in the Championship final.
The performance of the Victorians may have surprised many but several connections at the ground were lauding the effect of the Junior Gold Cup [JGC] and also the (essentially) club-based programme of school-aged players.
The ACT have had some down years and were due for a good one, but some at the ground also commended the local pathway and the JGC.
The superb performance by Combined States can’t be explained except that the boys gelled together more quickly than they have other years and they had some cracking direction by the coaches.
One notable feature of the day was the consistent goal kicking from wide out by several young Dead-Eyed Dicks.
Each year I say I can’t wait for Day 2, but this year I really mean it.
Disclaimer – our writers depend on the official programmes for the names of the players they don’t know; so please bear with us if nominated players have been substituted before or during the Championships.
Photos by Lee Grant
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