Queensland II 22 – NSW II 12
by “Brian Westlake”
The Coffee man made a good brew and the young ladies served me a bacon and egg sanga as I took up position in a balmy 9 degree day. The wind was just offering a chill off the harbour, but all in all, a beautiful winter’s day in Sydney.
Would the rugby in the curtain-raiser to the main game live up to the fine weather and food?
It did not.
First half
From the kick off I thought that running rugby was going to be on offer when Reds 7 Farrell pilfered the ball. I was wrong. It was 12 phases one-off the ruck stuff that was easy to defend against but NSW fouled in the 22 with the penalty knocked over by the 22 Creighton.
Qld ll 3 – 0.
Coming straight back into it NSW 6 Pietsch forced a knock-on 25 metres out with the NSW 7 Donato pestering and spinning before being stopped dead in his tracks by Red 20 Sikimeti.
A bit of toing and froing followed with neither team able to string three passes together without the ball being spilt. Some people could be harsh on this, but I will say fatigue after a long tournament may have been responsible.
Nine minutes in a quick tap penalty from NSW saw a try to 9 Strang, who caught opponents napping. Converted by 22 Pelligrini. NSW ll 7 – 3
Already fatigue was showing with the Red scrum almost upright at this stage. It was becoming a dour affair with the Reds continuing one-off stuff that seemed like their boys were all making sure that they didn’t drop the pill. It worked though: in the end NSW was pinged for not releasing and this gifted another three points to Creighton.
NSW ll 7 – 6 at 14 minutes.
Eleven phases of one-out movement ensued and ended with a knock-on by the Reds. Finally in the 24th minute the line broke with 20 Sikimeti driving over adjacent to the right stick for Queensland and the extras had them hit the front 13-7.
Going through to half time it was a little bit of a tussle back and forth, but all one out stuff again. Did somebody ask them to both play this way?
Half-time score: Queensland II 13 – NSW II 7.
I had been out of Sydney on business and this was the first game I had seen this week. The only two players that truthfully stood out were the two scrumhalves due to the fact they were the only ones passing the ball.
It also seemed something was not quite right with the Qld lineouts, but there were no benefits to either side capitalised on.
Second half
There was more of the same after the break.
Passes from both sides went to ground and it looked like the week was getting the better of both teams at this stage. Then in the third minute of the half a tight head scrum to NSW changed the face of the game and NSW drove on to be held up over the line. Next scrum was solid and a little bit of catch and pass ended with NSW 11 Prindiville scoring.
Qld ll 13 – 12
A turnover penalty forced by NSW 7 Donato relieved pressure for his team but they failed to find touch allowing Qld to drive it back into the fray hard once again.
Again it swung back to NSW with an offside penalty at 12 minutes against the Reds, but the easy kick hit the upright upright and Qld ll scrambled well to exit reefing the ball towards the other end.
Cleaning up the NSW fullback flicked the pill back to avoid being forced into touch but the ball was snaffled by the Reds’ chase. Good defence from NSW forced an error with the Reds over their goal line which saved the blushes of their fullback.
Creighton of Queensland added another three points when NSW did not release the ball for the northerners to lead 16-12 with about ten minutes to go. The lads from both sides looked exhausted and the subs come on were coming on now. NSW 18 was pinged for not rolling away and Creighton slotted another three points. Qld ll 19 – 12.
Qld gave NSW more than one chance to hit back but a few pushed passes let down NSW and Qld were quick to push back with another infringement by NSW 18 in the 28 minute with Qld taking a shot that came off the posts! Again!
All of a sudden it got very messy, very quickly, with frustration from some NSW subs. A slight bit of a skirmish amongst the forwards with all and sundry coming in led to some less than pleasant scenes and one of the NSW players sitting out what was left of the game with a red card.
Creighton stepped up and knocked it over for Qld to take a win.
Final score: Queensland II 22 – NSW II 12
The wrap-up
Overall the game was not what one would expect at this level with the boys running out of steam. It was dour, passionate and hard but did not hit any heights. Lots of Radox baths for both teams except the wingers, they just did not see the ball, either side.
Good luck to all the Year 12 men doing their HSC and to all with their burgeoning rugby careers.
The players
Queensland – There were some positives with their 9 Wall, 7 Farrell and 20 Sikimeti doing well. Passing, although infrequent, was not that good, but as I said I would put that down to sheer fatigue.
I like the look of the second rower Hockings who I think will continue to develop.
NSW – The 7 Donato is your classic annoying pestering loosie, and was my best for the NSW ll team. Again the 9, Strang, seemed to have a great passing game and the little 22 Pelligrini played well and truly above his weight.
Click on page 3 below for reports on the earlier games in the day.
