NSW have taken out the 2015 Under 20 Championship with a 31-9 win over Queensland this afternoon in Canberra. NSW took their chances well and scored five tries to nil in the dominant win.
The Match
The Queenslanders had the better of the opening exchanges and spent the majority camped down in the NSW half. They turned down a penalty shot at goal and opted to kick for touch but were unable to secure their ball from the lineout.
Queensland winger Conrad Quick went close to opening the scoring with a scything run from the right wing through the defensive line but lost the ball in the shadows of the line to let NSW off the hook.
NSW were the first to open the scoring after 12 minutes to flanker Nick Kellaway under the sticks after a good run from Andrew Kellaway down the left wing in the leadup. Andrew Deegan converted to make it 7-0.
Queensland hit back almost immediately with a penalty goal to flyhalf James Dalgliesh to narrow the gap to 7-3.
NSW started to get on top and went further in front with winger Harry Jones on the end of a nice backline move in the left corner to make it 12-3.
Queensland got back into the game on the back of the boot of Dalgliesh as they were content to progress three points at a time on the back of penalties inside the NSW 22.
NSW had their third try of the half when Jack McCalman rolled over from the back of a maul and with Deegan’s conversion they were out to a 19-6 lead.
Towards the end of the half with the Reds on a bit of a roll, Dalgliesh landed his third penalty goal to make the score 19-9.
Just on half time, Queensland had a chance to narrow the NSW lead to seven but the penalty goal attempt was just wide.
The second half opened with NSW hot on attack inside the Queensland 22 on the back of a series of penalties. But after numerous phases, NSW were unable to cross the line and knocked on to the relief of the Queensland defence.
That seemed to give Queensland a lift and they spent the next period down in the NSW 22 and on the back of their pressure, NSW were down to 14 men with Fainga’a sent to the bin for 10 minutes.
However, they could not take advantage and were penalised on their own scrum feed five metres out and just minutes later NSW had scored their fourth try with a brilliant chip and regather from Andrew Kellaway to make it 26-9.
With the game into the final 20 minutes, Queensland had their turn down to 14 men with Sham Vui given a rest following a break from Harry Jones down the left wing. NSW couldn’t take advantage immediately but then Queensland were down to 13 men after another yellow to Lolo Fakaosilea following a shoulder charge after the whistle for a forward pass.
The advantage proved too much for Queensland as NSW scored their fifth try of the day to Olly Kamp with ten minutes remaining.
Queensland kept fighting to the end and went close to scoring but were penalised right on the line and after the kick failed to find touch, their replacement scrum half had the ball stripped.
The NSW defence again held well right to end and managed to hold Queensland out as the final whistle sounded to leave NSW as the winners.
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]NSW 31
Tries: N Kellaway, Jones, McCalman, A Kellaway, Kamp
Conversions: Deegan 2, Newsome
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]QLD 9
Penalties: Dalgliesh 3
[/one_half]
Cards
54 mins – Fainga’a (NSW) – Yellow
66 mins – Vui (Qld) – Yellow
68 mins – Fakaosilea (Qld) – Yellow
Teams
(as best read from the handwritten sheet)
Qld: 1. Aaron Pleash, 2. Josh Webb, 3. Dylan Sikimet, 4. Angus Scott-Young, 5. Izack Rodda, 6. Lolo Fakaosilea, 7. Adam Korczyk, 8. Harley Fox, 9. Angus Fowler, 10. James Dalgliesh, 11. Joey Fittock, 12. Jason Tomane, 13. Liam Jurd, 14. Conrad Quick, 15. Patrick James
Res: 16. Jake Lyon, 17. Garrath Ryan, 18. Sham Vui, 19. Tuaina Tualima, 20. Douglas MacMillan, 21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22. Mitch Third, 23. Brannagh Corcoran
NSW: 1. Cameron Orr, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Matt Sandell, 4. Harrison Williams, 5. Ned Hanigan, 6. Nick Kellaway, 7. Jack McCalman, 8. Olly Kamp, 9, Mitch Short, 10. Andrew Deegan, 11. Harry Jones, 12. Jack Redden, 13. Alex Newsome, 14. Henry Hutchison, 15. Andrew Kellaway
Res: 16. Ed Craig, 17. Vunipola Fifita, 18. Francis Brown, 19. Lukhan Tui, 20. Sam Croke, 21. Hamish Dunbar, 22. Rory Davis, 23. Corey Tulloch.
Queensland’s Adam Korczyk was named player of the tournament.
