Earlier in the day four teams were playing off for the lesser placings.
Apart from parents and folks connected with the teams, or the organisers, there was barely a soul watching the 9 am kick-off on Finals Day.
You could hardly blame anybody because it was a cold, damp winter morning that went through to the bone. Luckily the wind that raised the wind-chill factor on Thursday, was missing
Combined States 31 – Western Australia 28
by “Lee Grant”
These teams hadn’t won a game during the tournament but you wouldn’t have guessed it as they went at each other like angry wolves.
First half
WA were on fire and after 10 Nicolas Jooste got them in striking distance with a well-placed kick to the corner, lock Jack Daynes went over from a maul. Next 7 Sosifa Likio was in after an excellent kick through and a brace of mauls; so that after eleven minutes the Westerners were ahead 14-0.
It looked like Combined [CS] hadn’t showed up to play but they were more resolute than that and capped a good period of play with several pick and goes. Lock Michael Fenn stormed over the chalk at his home ground, and Aaron Ruru converted his try. WA 14 – CS 7.
WA was stung and found their way up the other end of the park. Jooste elected himself most likely to score in a run at the line, and he did. He converted it as he had the others.
Half-time score: Western Australia 21 – Combined States 7.
Second half
Combined sent out a whole new team after the break, or so it appeared. William Haskins started the scoring after 6 Sam Musgrove gained ground with a long run. Then, as this writer was getting a warming coffee A. Nother scored to bring Combined States to within two points 19-21 ten minutes after the break.
Where were these CS players in the first half?
The remaining 20 minutes of the half had more twists and turns than the “Marriage of Figaro”.
Despite receiving a poor pass and having to reach back for it 12 Richard Munchow put Combined ahead for the first time in the match with the score 26-21 after the extras.
With nine minutes left THP Sy Waiti put WA ahead and the conversion gave the lead back 28-26. Then THP James Green somehow burrowed under tacklers for Combined to lead 31-28.
Not to worry – there were four minutes left in the game—time for a couple of tries, surely.
WA got a penalty that Jooste could slot to draw the game, but they weren’t there to tie the game—they tapped the ball buy the pass was dropped. WA got another chance when Combined did a silly chip kick, however a subsequent WA pass was intercepted and the ball was eventually kicked out.
Final score: Combined States 31 – Western Australia 28.
It was a shame that either team had to lose that game but it was what it was. What a top game of schoolboy rugby.
Victoria 32 – ACT 15
by “Lee Grant”
First half
ACT took an early penalty goal but Victoria was the first to score a try—straight after the restart when winger Nicholas Donghi benefited from a generous offload.
They were in a promising situation not long afterwards but a not-straight throw in a good position spoiled that chance.
But 15 minutes into the half they got the lineout and the drive from it went well and 19 FT Lotolua scored.
At 10-3 to Victoria the game got even and apart for a long run from Josh Coward of Victoria there was not much of note—but just before the break Mackenzie Hansen saw a path to the corner for the ACT and succeeded in dotting down. This was anybody’s game.
Half-time score: Victoria 10 – ACT 8.
Second half
After a long penalty goal and a try from a tap kick penalty, thanks to a lazy ACT runner, Victoria lead 18-8 five minutes into the half.
Then, no names be mentioned, a Victorian player, left ACT tacklers spread-eagled but when he rounded to dot down under the posts he dropped the ball.
Would that be costy ?? Not really: the excellent fullback/scrumhalf Josh Coward went on a dashing run and rounded under the posts and Victoria led 23-8 about 15 minutes into the half. It looked like a long way back for the ACT lads.
They had a good chance to make up ground with a lineout close to the Vic goal line with ten minutes remaining but they spilt the ball.
Soon after the inimitable Coward when on another long run for Victoria and just as you though he had kept the ball a step too long, he back-handed a SBW pass to Donghi, who smoked several would-be tacklers to score.
Victoria led 32-8 and the game was safe but Mackenzie Hansen was able to cross for his second try for the ACT before the end. Five tries to two was a fair indication of the merits of the two teams.
Final score: Victoria 32 – ACT 15.
See video highlights of Victoria v ACT in Discussion below – courtesy of “sidesteppa”
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