The 2013 National Under 16 Championship started in extreme heat today at St. Ignatius College at Riverview.
Typically, perceived stronger teams are drawn to play against weaker teams on Day 1. The results went according to the form guide but there was some inspiring resistance by losing teams and threats of comebacks.
Queensland Red 57 — Victoria 24
Victoria got the first points of the tournament when they earned a penalty kick from early pressure but after 13.Perese of the Reds breached the line and went on a long run 10. Horan scored near the posts. Red 7-3 at 14 minutes.
Five minutes later Qld Red got good field position from a penalty kick and launched an attack for THP Vui to dot down, handy.
Qld Red was ahead 14-0—Victoria were not putting the Qld ball runners on the ground and they were paying the price.
Not long after the Vics looked good on attack but they turned the ball over and speedy winger Bender smoked the defenders. After 22 minutes Qld Red had scored three converted tries and were ahead 21-3.
In the next eight minutes Qld Reds score two more tries: the first to Bender (for his second) after 7. Moroney went on a fine run—and the next to the impressive Perese, after a weaving run that the Vics couldn’t contain.
At halftime the score was 33-3. Queensland Red looked dominant and surely the Vics would put up the white flag in the second half because they looked stuffed.
It appeared that way when 8. Hewat scored from a pick and go after Qld Red attacked after the restart kick. Qld were ahead 40-8 but the Victorians buckled down and gave the Reds a scare.
12. Sila went on a good run for the Vics and after a penalty tap kick no. 8 Leotu Lu, the skipper, scored. The Red lead was 40-10, but there was no scoring for the next 20 minutes—and there was little difference in the teams in this period.
Then lock Elordi scored for the Vics and not long after bullocking 6. Uelese went on a good run for Victoria and scrummie Coward chipped through for a good position. The Red team was on the back foot and after a lineout in prime real estate Coward grubbered over the line for himself, and scored.
Hold the phone: there were 13 minutes to go and the score was 40-24 Qld Red. Game on.
No it wasn’t; that was as good as it was for the Vics. The Qld Red team put down the hammer and scored three more tries: one to lock Scott-Young and two to winger Edwards—including a 65 metre scoot from a Vic turnover.
The Teams
Except for the start of the game and for 20 minutes in the second half, Qld Red looked dominant. The replacement players after oranges didn’t not handle the Victorians as well as the starting team did, but over 70 minutes their classier and faster players made their mark. The backs were particularly dangerous when they swarmed to get into position for attacking runs, even if not needed.
Victoria showed what they were capable of in the second half but the Qld forwards earned too much front foot ball and that forced defenders to react when not lined up properly.
The Players
Queensland Red (points): 3. Izaia Perese; 2. Gavin Luka, 1. Reece Hewat
Honourable mention: Lock – Angus Scott-Young; Winger – Dean Bender
Qld Red was chock-full of good players: 13. Perese was hard to stop every time he had the ball and he attracted tacklers which helped his supports. Big and mobile LHP Luka bashed through players but also handled deftly, and no. 6 Hewatt was a hard runner in traffic and was able to beach the gain-line.
Victoria (points): 3. Josh Coward, 2. Sione Tuipoluto, 1.Jordan Uelese.
When the Vics had go-forward scrummie Coward found the Reds out of position and his chips kicks were deadly. Chunky 13. Tuipoluto worried tacklers with his side-step and blindside flanker Uelese made some long gains.
Summary
Victoria will worry opponents this week if they dominate more on defence instead of waiting for runners. They also have to hold their concentration longer when the other side is on top.
Queensland Red were impressive but other teams handled team changes during the game better.
Sydney Juniors 37 — Brumbies 15
by “George Smith”
Sunny (28 deg) and a 6 knot breeze from the north.
Having the wind and sun behind you was a distinct advantage today. The crowd was divided between parents in the stands and the full sun and the interested by-standers on the northern hill with the shade.
Sydney always enters their rep campaign full of easy expectations and this year’s cohort is no exception. The Brumbies gave the Sydney lads a scare several weeks ago at Marist College’s beautiful grounds in Canberra. This Championship game started as the last encounter did with Sydney expecting quick points without the piggies earning the right first.
First half
After a patchy start Sydney opened the scoring with a try out wide to their winger Fraser Toohey (#14) with the conversion unsuccessful. Then followed the curse of inept Australian kicking: the ACT tried a clearing kick to the open paddock. But this gave Sydney a chance to attack which ended in a bullocking charge by centre Ligaliga-Tonise to score.
Not so long after the restart Sydney were in again with their #15 Conor Hurley scoring a try. Chris Orpen (#23) converted from out wide to take the score to 18-0. ACT responded after several phases that allowed Angus Allen (#7) to score ,only to allow Sydney in again with a try to Lachlan Anderson (#6).
The half time score was Sydney 25 leading ACT 5.
Second half
ACT started the scoring with a penalty kick soon after the break. Then followed it up with a try to Brumbies utility back Jacob Patmore (#22) after a loose Sydney pass to take the score to 25-15.
The break was not kind to Sydney as they failed to utilise their outside backs with too many players trying to make the play by themselves.
Again after 18 minutes into the second half Sydney botched another scoring opportunity by not passing to players in better positions. But after a few substitutes this was rectified when 5 minutes later the ball got to the big Sydney #12, James Hawkins who immediately beat his opposite and put his centre partner Steve Gibson (#13) over for a try which was converted by #10 Dan England. Sydney Juniors 32-15.
As Sydney finally learned of the danger to the opposition of their centres, James Hawkins (#12) again made a break which set up the next try to #22 Denzal Ligaliga-Tonise to take the score to 37-15 when the ref called full time.
Summary
Sydney need to be on their game from the kick off and play each game as though their Friday entertainment rides on it. They have had the benefit of playing three warm-up games which is more than most of the other teams.
With playing in the heat and the intensity of the Championship coupled with boarding in the dormitories teams always fatigue and only the teams who gel well will celebrate on Friday.
ACT were always in the game but missed tackles—and not owning the breakdown allowed the scoreboard to tick over against them.
NSW Schools 40 — Western Australia 3
by “Tahspark”
On a hot afternoon more suitable for the beach than rugby in this Pool A clash, NSW Schools’ first hit out was against the boys from the west.
First half
In what could have been a more ominous sign for W.A., Schools’ backline clicked into gear early as good hands saw Cullen (23) score in the corner and McGregor (10) slotted the conversion: 7-0 inside the first 3 minutes. Oxley (9) was providing quick service and about 5 mins later McGregor put Maddocks (15) into a hole who off loaded to Loga-Tarogi (14) for his 1st try. McGregor converted: 14-0.
After a knock on from Schools only a try saving tackle on W.A.’s dangerous fullback, Ngamaru (15), from Porter (13) kept W.A. at bay. Shortly thereafter, W.A. was awarded a penalty in front of the sticks and Jooste (10) stepped up to slot the penalty goal: 14-3. 15 y.o. Lough (12) had a solid game and his off-load led to the next try with Maddocks crossing for his 1st. McGregor converted: 21-3.
Then followed a period when the game was played between the respective 22’s. The W.A. scrum caused Schools some headaches and Schools was unable to assert any dominance at the set piece.
The deadlock was broken when Loga-Tarogi showed some deft footwork and Maddocks backed up for his 2nd try. McGregor’s conversion saw the half-time score at 28-3.
Second half
In the early exchanges, W.A. overcame a series of penalties to keep their goal line intact whilst Schools continued to raid.
There was an intercept by Jooste that set the crowd alight and could’ve seen a long range try, however, the ref had already spotted a W.A. infringement.
From an ensuing scrum, McGregor sent Lough in and with McGregor’s conversion it was 35-3. From the kick-off, Richards (11) made a strong run & with good team support, Loga-Tarogi crossed for his 2nd try in the opposite corner. McGregor was unable to convert from wide out: 40-3.
Given the quick turnaround between these consecutive tries there was a whiff of a potential blow out but it wasn’t to be. In fact, Ngamaru made two telling runs in the back end of the half the second of which was only denied 5 points by Goddard’s (21) defence. W.A. had the best opportunity to post points late & kept pressing only for the ball not to come out its side of the ruck and when the ref ruled the feed to Schools that was all she wrote.
Final analysis
The forward exchanges were willing throughout. Schools’ backline showed a number of classy touches to convert good field position. W.A. will continue to cause problems for their opponents especially if their backline sees cleaner ball.
Best for NSW Schools: Porter (13), Maddocks (15) & Loga-Tarogi (14).
Best for W.A.: Ngamaru (15), Jooste (10) & Cavu (8).
Other result
Queensland White 36 — NSW Country 8
Day 1 Summary
It was a typical Day 1 outcome – a lot of rustiness. nervousness and lack of cohesion, but also some class and promising brutality.
Queenland Red was stymied for one quarter of their first game but looked the best team of the day, just ahead of NSW Schools.
