ACT 24 — Victoria 22
by “Hugh Jarse”
Both ACT and Victoria [Vic] had won a match and come within a whisker of a second victory in their pool games. As they ran out in the 5th/6th playoff game, they looked like they had a point to prove.
With the warming sun on their backs, the ACT kicked off to the South into the light swirling breeze coming up off the Parramatta River.
First Half
The game was four minutes in when the most amazing individual try of the week was scored by one of most outstanding individuals of the week.
12 Sione Tuipulotu of Victoria got the ball deep in his half and was more interested in getting around his immediate danger, 10 Jordan Jackson-Hope (another top individual) of the ACT, than scoring a long-range try.
But but once he fended JJH off he kept running, moving around to link with his winger. ACT guys fell over trying to stop him but not a hand was laid on the Vic inside centre, though maybe the odd finger grazed him.
His winger ran inside Tuipulotu which legally blocked tacklers coming from infield and he scored.
The Rebels should be all over this bloke and I hope that he does not go to the dark side. Billy Gray was unable to convert from wide out. Vic 5 – ACT 0.
ACT were shocked into action. The Vics were winning plenty of ball but kept losing momentum through poor breakdown accuracy and discipline. It was from such a loss of momentum that ACT took an opportunity to spin the ball wide where the Vic numbers were a little thin. With a deft little inside pass to tireless 10. Jackson-Hope, ACT opened their account with a try that 22. Harry Tyson converted. ACT 7 – Vic 5.
With ACT dominating field position, three minutes later, 22. Tyson handled twice in a well executed backline movement that exploited thin numbers in the Vic defence line and resulted in 15. Jordon Fulivai extending the ACT lead with a try 15 metres from the left hand touch line. 15. Fulivai was unable to convert his own try. ACT 12 – Vic 5.
At about 21 minutes Tuipulotu was instrumental in another Victorian try—after a run which attracted too many ACT defenders. 10. Billy Gray was able to pick up the ball after the tackle and when he was brought down, just short of the line, he was able to pop a pass to 6. Ikapote Tupai who dotted down under the posts. This made the conversion by 17. JP Sauni a mere formality and the match was tied up at Vic 12 – ACT 12.
With about five minutes of the first half left 12. Tuipolotu bagged his second try. A nice movement started by 10. Gray regathering his chip and chase kick was transferred through 13. Ah-mu Tuimaleali’ifano to the supporting Tuipolotu. 17. Sauni was unable to convert the try from wide out. Vic 17 – 12.
At 30 minutes, ACT had a chance to claw back some points but 22. Tyson pushed a penalty shot wide of the posts and the teams headed for a well earned rest and some oranges with no change to the score.
Second Half
With the breeze freshening from the south-west, Vic kicked off and 38 seconds later the scores were once again tied up at 17 all, when ACT speedster 14. Samuel Ross scooted across the chalk out wide on the left flank. 11. Thomas Evans was unable to convert.
The game settled down to an ebb and flow affair with Vic charging downfield with their ball runners grinding the ball up in the wider channels, and the ACT responding with their boot to regain field position by hoofing the ball downfield.
Victoria eventually capitalised with 8. Tom Blake scoring a try near the left touch line after they had spread the ACT defence thin following multiple phases. 10. Gray hit the post with his conversion attempt. Vic had regained the lead 22 – 17, but with 20 minutes of a very tightly fought match left, this miss could be telling.
Shortly afterwards there was an extended break in play as an injured Brumby was attended to, eventually departing the oval on the medical golf cart. Following the resumption in play, both teams attacked and counter-attacked vigourously getting the building crowd excited as the clock wound down.
After sustained pressure, ACT were able to find a kink in the Vics defence and 11. Thomas Evans scooted over out wide and was able to score under the black dot to make the conversion easy for his kicker. With about ten minutes left 10. Jackson-Hope stroked the ball over for the additional two points. ACT 24 – Vic 22.
The remainder of the game was an intense struggle as the Brumbies sought to defend their lead, and the Vics toiled to regain it.
The highlight of the final phase of the game was an outstanding 40 metre breakout run by enigmatic prop 3. RJ Sa’aga. This came to naught following a turnover and ACT kick downfield. There was no further scoring and when the referee finally blew no-game, the ACT had secured 5th place with a hard fought two point victory 24-22.
The Wrap Up
This was an entertaining match to watch with the result in doubt until the final whistle, but it must have been rather frustrating for the respective coaching staff.
Teams were evenly matched but adopted different game plans. ACT preferred to rely on lower risk game based on attacking from secure field positions in their opposition territory, while Vics built pressure by using their classy centres and piggies running in wider channels. Unfortunately the Vic breakdown work was not accurate enough and they turned over possession too often in the tackle contest either through a pilfer or penalty.
Both teams had the cattle and capability to play in the 3rd/4th playoff and with an ounce of luck in their earlier games, one or both of them could have been there. At times their ball movement was a little laboured allowing that critical time for defences to get organised, and both could be more accurate at breakdown time to avoid giving up easy penalties.
Both teams struggled to secure their own lineouts at times, not only in this game but throughout the tournament, and subsequently put themselves under additional pressure. losing momentum and field position in the process.
Best players of the week
Victoria
3 points: 12. Sione Tuipolotu. A strong physical player who ran hard and straight and distributed to his outsides when there was space out wide.
2 points: 17. JP Sauni. Courageously played with a broken nose. Physically imposing in the set piece and the darker arts of forward play.
1 point: 13. Ah-mu Tuimaleali’ifano. Hard running and speedy centre that formed a formidable centre pairing with 12. Tuipolotu.
ACT
3 points: 10. Jordan Jackson-Hope. The best flyhalf of the week. This lad was everywhere on attack and defence, and was comfortable playing at 10, or 12. He was a real handful in broken play and was often found touching twice in attacking movements.
2 points: 15. Jordan Fulivai. Solid play was rewarded with selection into Australian Schoolboys. Very dangerous on attack and solid in defence.
1 Point: 14. Samuel Ross. A fine finisher who knew where the try line was.
Honourable Mention: 2. Timote Siuta Tai. Terrible injury in game 2. Solid breakdown and lineout work, and leadership up to that point.
The Scoring
ACT 24 : 4t (14. S Ross, 15. J Fulivai, 10. J Jackson-Hope, 11. T Evans), 2 Con (10, Jackson-Hope, 22. H Tyson) def Vic I 22 : 4t (12. S Tuipolotu 2, 6. I Tupai, 8. T Blake) 1 Con (17. JP Sauni)
Half Time: Vic I 17 – ACT 12
