National Under 16 Championship — Day 2

Queensland Red 22 — Sydney Juniors 15

This was a close scoreline but to be fair: it was flattering to Sydney.

First half

Sydney were on fire from the kick off, and camped in the Reds 22 for what seemed about 10 minutes. Reds defended really well on their own line, managing to keep the try line intact. Perhaps a little white line fever from some of the Sydney boys. Reds infringed, and Sydney went 3 nil up with a penalty kick to Dan England.

Reds were next to score with a well worked backline move from inside the Sydney 22. Try converted, score 7-3.

The forward packs were well matched, and Sydney had the better of the scrums whilst giving away some weight. The Qld line out was very slick with lots of tall timber and crisp delivery to the half back. On a very windy day both hookers did well with no crooked throws called.

Sydney were next to score with a try to Tom Lever (no 4) who put in a strong display all day. Conversion missed, 8-7 to Sydney.

Queensland scored another well worked backline try out wide, bringing the score to 12-8 to the Reds at the break.

Second half

The Reds started the second half the way Sydney started the first, and they seemed to dominate for most of the balance of the game. The Sydney backs had less ball in the second half, but still plenty of it, but the Reds defence came up very quickly and put pressure on the Sydney backline resulting in some uncharacteristic errors and perhaps wrong options. This was a credit to the Reds swarming defence.

In the end, the Reds ran in two more tries in the second half, and Sydney one at the death.

The Sydney forwards won the scrum battle, with even honours on the line outs. Horton for Sydney (no 2) was aggressive at the breakdown and tackled well all day. No 7 for Sydney, Lochie Simpson also got through plenty of work. There was some chat overheard on the sideline that maybe the Sydney bench players should have been introduced earlier to the game given the high intensity on the field, with fresh legs maybe making a difference. We will never know.

Well done to both teams on putting on an entertaining display of tough rugby.

NSW Schools 33 — NSW Country

by “Top Cat”

After yesterday’s display by NSW Country I must admit I was prepared for a slaughter today.

First Half

Three minutes into the game and from a scrum deep in their own half NSW Schools passed the ball along the back line for the No.11Richards to score in the corner. A beautiful kick from the sideline saw them race to a 7-0 lead.

Schools won the ball from the kick off and kicked deep into Country territory, their full back failed to find touch with a poor clearing kick and it cost them dearly with the schools No.12 Lough running through the middle to score under the posts after 5 minutes. 14-0.

From the restart Schools won the ball deep in their territory and passed the ball along the back line for their No.22 Mellor to run down the wing and score under the posts. 21-0 after 7 minutes.

Good pressure by Country saw schools knock down a pass and from the resulting penalty they threatened the Schools try line by taking the tap.

Scrappy play saw Schools pick up a loose ball and run down the wing. A lobbed basketball pass that went metres forward, (to the ARU official who was taking stats and said it wasn’t. I told you so! :p), also helped them gain valuable ground but they gave a penalty away in the first ruck 60 metres down field.

Country then returned the favour but infringing and a tap and run saw Schools down in Country territory. Another ball along the back line and another forward pass (I saw that one too) saw a try under the posts. How come I can see these forward passes and I’m looking through a lens? 28-0 after 17 minutes.

Country then began to get into a rhythm and pressured School’s line but to no avail and play then continued back and fore between each teams 22 line. With Schools attacking on the Country 22 a ball was knocked forward into the hands of the Country No.12 and with a duck and a turn he was through the back line and racing to the corner. A beautiful out wide conversion saw the whistle blown for HT with the score at 28-7.

Second half

Country now had the strong wind in their backs, were more determined and were prepared to hassle the Schools side. A ball stolen in a maul by the Country No.8  Peden on the 22 saw Schools under pressure, ad a few pick and drives saw the Country No.9 Baker go over in the corner on the 34 minute mark. 28-12.

Schools then began to pressure Country again, although the backline passing wasn’t as fluent as in the 1st half. Little mistakes allowed Country to regain the ball make ground back into Schools territory by breaking through the Schools line. A kick into the corner almost saw Country scoring with the Schools No.15 just managing to get the ball down in the in goal area ahead of the Country No.11. Townsend.

Country weren’t giving in without a fight, however, a scrum infringement inside the oppositions half saw Schools run the ball from the tap, passing along the line, and then back again to the other side to gain an overlap so as to score out wide. 33-12 after 51 minutes.

Schools knocked forward from the restart and from the scrum Country were able to attack once again. A grubber kick on the Schools 22 (shaking my head :mad:) into the legs of the defenders allowed Schools to regain the ball.

An infringement a little up field saw Schools kick poorly for touch and only gain five metres. They then lost the lineout and Country again pressured making ground to the Schools 22. Another grubber kick, better luck on the next set of six, (can’t you tell I hate them :mad:) resulted in a knock forward and a scrum feed to Schools.

From the clearing kick Schools were penalised for offside which allowed Country once again to attack the opposition only to be held up over the line adjacent to the posts.

Country attacked from the 5 metre scrum only to be denied on the line a number of times and Schools finally being penalised for a ruck infringement. From the tap Country passed the ball wide and from a pick and drive saw the No.1 go over in the corner right on the final whistle.

Final score – NSW Schools 33 v NSW Country 17

Summary

Schools passed the ball beautifully along the backs in the first half but were generally scrappy in the second. Full credit to Country, they should be proud of themselves as they could of dropped their heads at 28-0 but they didn’t.

At 28-12 if they had used the wind and kicked to the corners there was always a chance that the lineout throws would not have been straight.