Earlier in the day some lower-seeded teams were engaged in some exciting rugby.
ACT 19 – Combined States 14
by “Lee Grant”
These two sides hadn’t won a game but you wouldn’t have thought it the way they had a go at each other in the first match of the day.
First half
ACT scored early after it seemed that a scrum move broke down, but 10 Siaosi Pulefale (playing 12) ran back against the grain and scored. Too easy.
ACT kept applying pressure, including through the scrum, but there were no points going on the scoreboard. ACT should have been ten ahead but the defence of Combined was of sterling stuff.
When Combined got its first real chance 25 minutes in they sent in a wave of attackers and 11 Alexander Pohla was credited with a try. The extras tied up the game 7-7.
Pohla had another threatening run up the left hand side of the park and things looked promising again, but hands-in at the ruck stopped Combined’s chances.
Half-time score: ACT 7 – Combined States 7.
Second half
There was more unrequited superiority by the ACT after the break then somebody kicked the ball through—and who was it that grounded the ball in the ACT in-goal? Joe Williams of Combined States it was, and after the conversion they led 14-7, eight minutes into the second half.
This was despite a strong southerly wind building up during the game and Combined now running against it. The wind cost ACT throwing the ball to the lineout near the CS line because it ended up on the wrong side and the defenders were able to clear.
At last the ACT got a benefit after their piggies pummelled the CS line, and a risky long pass in the wind worked, for 22 Jacob Abel to stroll over and dot down . With eleven minutes remaining ACT were back in the saddle, though Combined still led—by 14 to 12.
The ACT were at about the same spot a couple of minutes later when they used the wind to float the ball down to the corner and 17 Richard Tupou went over soon after. The conversion was also floated nicely, between the sticks, and the ACT were in the lead 19-14.
There were still five minutes to go and what happened in that time had more twists and turns than the Game of Thrones; but it suffices to say that there was no more scoring, and that neither team deserved to lose that match.
Final score: ACT 19 – Combined States 14
It was a top game and the twee folks who came later to see only the “important” matches deserved to miss it.
There was no player who did not earn a mention – well done to all.
Victoria 36 – Western Australia 24
by “Lee Grant”
The second match of the day was also a goodie and by this time the wind factor was ingrained in the players’ minds by the coaches.
It was set up for WA 10 Nicholas Jooste to have an influential game. A smaller version of Jack Debreczeni, he’s impressed in Sydney for WA in the last couple of years but, truth be told, he over-cooked a couple of howitzer shots and dropped a bit of ball also.
First half
13 Puni Aupuni opened up WA like a can of sardines to score a couple of minutes in, but after the Vics dropped a high ball 15 Eli Greaves scored for WA near the posts, and the extras tied the score up at 7-7.
Reserve flanker Jowell Samatua scored for Victoria and Greaves could have had his second for WA but the intercept of a pass was dropped.
Victoria were leading 12-7 just before the break, and WA were not taking advantage of a late resurgence in the half, when 6 Evan Stafford pounced on a loose ball around the ruck, found nothing but grass in front of him and scored near the sticks for the Westerners. Jooste converted the try.
Half-time score: Western Australia 14 – Victoria 12
Second half
Soon after the break WA charged up the right hand side then switched to the left. Jooste ran himself this time and scored wide. The conversion missed but WA led 19-12.
But the disaster struck for them when they couldn’t control the kick-off and 11. Oisin Clarken was in for a cheapy for the Vics. The conversion tied the scores at 19-19.
There was more bad news for WA about 20 minutes into the half when WA won their scrum five metres out from their own goal line, but the lad picking up the ball knocked it on. Victoria won the follow-up 5-metre scrum and scored well from first phase as Clarken was too strong in the tackle.
There was still hope for WA, down 19-26 and nine minutes left but a yellow card scotched their hopes and a third try by Clarken after a kick through put the result beyond doubt.
The boys were tired now and both 12 Leighton Short of WA and 15 Joshua Coward of Victoria were able to get meat before the final whistle.
Final score: Victoria 36 – Western Australia 24.
The Vics score six tries to four but WA can look back at some what-if moments—especially the cheapie Vic try after the restart kick, the Vic try after WA dropped the ball from their own 5-metre scrum—and the yellow card.
All photos by Lee Grant
