Match of the Round: Nudgee College at Churchie (13-24)
Will Rafter (RuggasXV)
Touted as the game that would decide the 2014 champions, the match between ACGS and NC delivered on all fronts. A wild crowd was present on the wet and rainy day that saw a very physical confrontation play out between two teams stacked with representative talent. Predictably, the wet weather made handling a little harder and forced a lot of ball skyward off the boot, so the classy and streamlined plays these two teams were accustomed to were absent. Yet this didn’t stop the schoolboys from providing an entertaining fixture and a glimpse at who would finish 2014 on top.
1st HALF
The first half was agonizingly tight. The wet weather forced a lot of plays in close around the forwards and the brutality of the two forward packs were showing. The first ten minutes of the game were abundant with kicking, the occasional knock on, and the crowd screaming their guts out at every big hit they could lay their eyes on. Within this period, NC posted the first points of the game as #10. Liam Moseley slotted a penalty goal. After twelve minutes it was 3-3 as ACGS #9. Harry Nucifora responded with a penalty goal of his own. Each teams try scoring opportunities were somewhat marred by the poor handling the wet weather was bringing.
The NC defence was absolutely rock solid and accompanied by the enormous kicking abilities of Moseley, they were preventing any ball from entering their half. The service from both halfbacks was still quite sharp in the wet weather. NC #9. Eli Pilz was standing out with his general play abilities and a fantastic banana kick of his own led to a NC penalty in front of the sticks. Moseley stepped up to the plate to put his team in front 6-3 with 20 minutes gone.
However, ACGS weren’t without their own skills and after winning a NC lineout, something that became frequent as the game went on, the forwards burrowed their way into the 22 before earning a penalty. Nucifora levelled the scores 6-6 in the 25th minute. The crowd was going wild at the close game unfolding before them.
A brilliant phase of play came a few minutes later through the ACGS backline. Some more forwards work gave #15 Kalyn Ponga the opportunity to bedazzle his opposition, stepping around two defenders to get into space and throw it to his winger but an absolutely fantastic cover tackle by #14. Tyrone Hussey saw the try saved. ACGS were getting dangerously close to scoring as they returned more of NC kicks and they were finally rewarded with another penalty five minutes before half time. Nucifora was able to kick his third goal to make the score 9-6.
The next five minutes was the turning point of the game. A tackle in the air and another dangerous spear tackle saw NC lose its winger and outside centre, both to the bin in the space of two minutes. Another sloppy lineout saw the half ended. The NC defence was holding firm yet with a two man advantage, ACGS needed to capitalise. This was proving hard thanks to the physicality of NC.
2nd HALF
The second half proved to be vastly different from the first. More sloppy lineouts from NC, coupled with having only 13 men on the field, saw Ponga score from 10 meters out thanks to a nice step and switch play from #2. Josh Webb. Nucifora missed his first goal of the day to make the score 14-6 only two minutes after the break.
NC seemed rattled. Poor discipline was creeping in and when they managed to get the ball, they rarely went anywhere. ACGS #5. Angus Scott-Young and #8. Harley Fox were making life hard for their opposition. ACGS were gaining meters in their attack and after multiple NC kicks went out on the full, ACGS found themselves in opposition territory. A penalty saw them move further downfield and some strong work for the forwards saw Fox burrow over in the corner. Nucifora was unable to add the extras and the score was 19-6 with 20 minutes left in the match.
After the resulting kick off went out on the full, it was evident NC were really starting to fall apart, even after they got their binned man back onto the field. However, a gutsy run by Pilz saw his team given a penalty and a real shot at scoring a try with a lineout 10 metres out. However, another sloppy lineout saw that chance quashed.
More errors were continuing to seep into the game as the once fabulous kicking from both teams began to dwindle in quality. Multiple kicks off NC penalties were failing to go out, yet ACGS were punishing themselves with handling errors. Finally, the strong running power of ACGS saw them in their opposition 22 and a simple hands play saw #11. Ben Ogilve put the nail in the coffin through a try in the corner with five minutes left to go. Nucifora missed the conversion and the score remained 24-6. It looked like the game had been wrapped up.
NC weren’t going down without a fight though and a scrum off the kick off in the ACGS 22 gave them a chance at redemption. NC were getting very close through some aggressive runs from Moseley, Hussey and #3. Gavin Luka and they earned a penalty and another scrum, off which Pilz had a dart and scored a much deserved try. Moseley kicked the conversion with ease and made the score 24-13 as the final whistle blew.
An exciting contest was the result of a game that could’ve played out different in dryer conditions. However, the class of ACGS worked well against some ill-discipline from NC, whose brutally strong forwards pack could’ve benefited without. Each team still has a long way to go just yet and if you’re at all familiar with the QLD GPS competition, you’ll know that anything’s possible.
SCORING
ACGS 24 (K. Ponga, H. Fox, B. Ogilve tries; H. Nucifora 3 pens) def NC 13 (E. Pilz try; L. Moseley con; L. Moseley 2 pens)
PLAYERS
ACGS
#15. Kalyn Ponga – Got his team out of trouble on a number of occasions with sublime footwork and handling skills, deservedly got a try.
#8. Harley Fox – A beast in attack and defence as usual. Not surprising to see him make some barnstorming runs when in space.
#5. Angus Scott-Young – Forced a few turnovers at times and was troublesome for his opposition.
NC
#9. Eli Pilz – An incredibly gutsy performance. Showed some real skill not only with his pass, but also off the boot and under the high ball. Easily best on the park for both teams.
#10. Liam Moseley – Able to contribute positively when he didn’t overplay his hand with his monstrous boot.
