Queensland I 26 — Queensland II 26
by “Lee Grant”
The curtain-raiser to the main even was a bittersweet game for both Queensland teams, who would have liked to appear in the later contest for first placing.
It was a bittersweet result also but the boys from the north produced a cracking game that did their state proud.
First half
Qld I (the Ones) started off with a hiss and a roar and raided the Twos half but when the Twos got a lineout near halfway they threw the ball back towards touch after one phase. Winger Tyrone Hussey streaked up the field chased by a posse of Ones and when he approached Ones’ fullback, Clifton Setu, timed his pass beautifully to a looming fat winger.
That was no fat winger: it was reserve prop Sam Keane who had been playing for Combined States earlier in the week. He was injured and replaced, but was co-opted by Qld II when they had an injury after he had recovered. In a run that will get longer in the telling of it Keane sprinted 25, 35 or 45 metres to score in a handy position. Reserve back McNulty converted and Qld II were ahead 7-0 at eight minutes.
Qld I would have expected things to get better but they got worse after a long period of play between the 22s. Following time down in the Ones’ 22, reserve lock Masi Ganita made a telling run and another reserve forward, Luke Peterson, knew what to do when he got the ball near the line—try. It was wide out and the conversion hit the post but, bloody hell, the Twos were ahead 12-0 at 20 minutes.
The closely-missed conversion wouldn’t matter, would it?
The Twos were looking more like Ones and would have enjoyed their ascendancy over lads who were playing in their spots, or so they might have thought. And what about those reserve forwards? Maybe they should have been starters.
Both Queensland teams were showing their age this year as they did last (young) but the Twos were playing older rugby and were more interested in the tough stuff.
One thought that the Ones had better wake up else the result could be embarrassing.
They did too.
After winger Sam Walker charged up the right hand side 8 Harley Fox took over then looped a basketball pass to 5 Reece Hewat. He got the ball to Setu who found the defenders too narrow on the left hand side of the park. He rounded past them and scored. The conversion missed but just before oranges Qld I had found some form.
The half time score was Qld II 12 – Qld I 5.
Second half
A different Qld I team seemed to come out in the second half
6. Tuaina Tualima scored four minutes into the half for the Ones and the conversion tied the game up at 12-12.
But five minutes later 10 Liam McNamara went on a telling burst for the Twos, pawing off defenders, until he was dragged down five metres out. 13 Jim Henjak picked up the ball and scored. Qld II had their seven-point lead back at 19-12.
15 minutes into the second half there was some beautiful interplay by the Twos, finished by a delightful duo. Fullback Geoffrey Roberston, passed to reserve back Kallab Coventry, who drew the last defender and passed back to Robertson who had somehow stayed on his feet to back up and score.
This was only the end of a sweeping move for one of the best tries of the week, and after the extras the tally was 26-12 to Qld II.
Where was this Two’s sparkling rugby earlier in the week?
The Ones’ resurgence after oranges seemed to be a false dawn and more like a pretend afternoon, but they showed their mettle and rallied when things looked lost.
The Twos might have relaxed after being two converted tries ahead because three minutes after their last score the Ones ran around their right hand side and new replacement Nick Te Rupe rounded to score under the posts.
Qld II were ahead by just seven points now—26-19. There were still twelve minutes to go—lot’s of time for either team to win or lose.
It was Qld I who took their chance after the Twos had missed a penalty goal.
Just before full-time the Twos could not exit from their half and important Ones’ players like 12 Calvin Pritchard and Fox handled a few times, as did both props Luka and Vui. Twos defenders were sucked in around action on one side of the field and 10 Alex Horan moved the ball to the other side. 13 Dean Bender scored but the conversion wasn’t a gimme.
Horan nailed it and the result of the game was a cracking tie; 26-26.
The scoring
QLD I 26 (C Setu, T Tualima, D Bender, N Te Rupe tries; A Horan 2 cons, H Nucifora con) drew with QLD II 26 (S Keane, G Robertson, J Henjak, L Peterson tries; E Pilz (2) B McNulty, cons).
Best players for the week
Queensland I
3 points – 11 Joey Fittock – missed the last game but was Campese-like when he got the ball and a better defender than Campo ever was. The best winger of the week for any team.
2 points – 8 Harley Fox – maybe not Aus schools material, as he seagulls a bit, but he had influential moments which lifted his team.
1 point – 15 Clifton Setu – a small fullback who is light on his feet and perhaps not the harshest defender but, my word, he scored some tries and caused others that would not have been scored but for him.
Queensland II
3 points – 9 Eli Pilz – it must have been close between who was picked between Nucifora (who also played well during the week) and him for the Ones job, because he did everything right and was a good goal kicker.
2 points – 8 Agassi Stowers – same remarks as as for Fox (above) and is skilful and tough enough.
1 point – 1 Richie Asiata – honestly, he is picked here because he was in so many of my photos throughout all the games, which answers to his work rate for a big bloke.
Photos by Lee Grant
Apology
I’m sorry these reports have been so tardy this week. This old writer has been suffering from the flu and is still under the weather.
Lee Grant
