Queensland Red wins Under 16 Championship

NSW Country 20 — Brumbies 15

by “Lee Grant”

Earlier in the day NSW Country played the Brumbies in the play-off to decide seventh and eighth place.

It may be that neither team had won a match in the first three days, but the lads played the game as though there were sheep stations on the outcome.

In hindsight Country won the game in the first eleven minutes.

First they got into the right real estate from a penalty kick and 6. Woods scored when the Brumbies couldn’t stop their pick and goes. Next, the Brumbies were in the Country red zone but they turned the ball over and Country scooted up the other end of the park. Eventually reserve prop Filipo dotted down.

Neither try was converted and Country led 10-0 after 11 minutes.

In the next ten minutes the Brumbies had good field position but stuffed up their execution of moves. Then they hit upon a radical plan—they played patiently and accurately for a whole minute, and the next thing they knew they were driving a maul over the Country goal-line to score.

They couldn’t convert either but they had closed the gap to 10-5 with Country still in the lead—and six minutes later the whistle blew for oranges.

The Brumbies were recovering from their poor start to the game.

The game was even in the third quarter and then, after resisting pressure in their own 22, Country took the ball down the other end. 7. Connolly had a fine run for the boys from the bush and he offloaded to fullback Woods, who scored. Country led 17-5 but there was still a quarter of the match to go.

Lot’s of time, but the Brumbies had used just a minute of it when they attacked from the kick-off.  None of the Country lads could stop rampaging 5.Hauville from scoring a terrific individual try.

The conversion missed and Country still led – but by only 17-10.  Then Country kicked a penalty goal to take the score to 20-10.

Later winger Kotz stood up an opponent and scored for the Brumbies, but time ran out with the final score: NSW Country 20 – Brumbies 15.

The Players

The best were:

Brumbies (points) – 3. Brodie Leder (lock); 2. Ben Katuke (LHP); 1. Liam Murphy (inside centre)

NSW Country – 3. Duncan Woods (flanker); 2. Harry Johnson-Holmes (prop); 1.  Josh Thorndyke (flyhalf).

Wrap-up

The Brumbies could not make up for their slow start which was a pity because the rest of the game was even.

The lads from both teams are to be congratulated for going hammer and tongs at each other in a contest for seventh spot.

Both teams had phases of commanding play during the week but they could not execute consistently on either attack or defence to worry the top sides.

National Indigenous 32 — South Australia 14

by “Lee Grant”

National Indigenous (“The Lloydies”) and South Australia were undefeated and the victor would be awarded the John Eales Shield for the winner of the Division II competition.

The Scoring

The Lloydies blitzed the SA boys and scored three tries in the first quarter of the game to lead by 19-0.

They had scored a runaway try by winger Doi, another when a kick bounced into the hands of flyhalf Robinson, and a third to 13. Barker after driving from a lineout then spreading the ball wide when defenders were sucked in.

It looked like it was going to be a long day for SA but they settled down and kept the score to Lloydies 19-0 at the break.

After oranges the Lloydies started another dangerous move out wide and SA 12. Munroe did the only thing he could—intercept a pass—and he scored at the other end.

It got even better when fullback Astle kicked through for SA and 8. Watson got the bounce to score. There was a quarter of the game to go and SA were still behind but by only 19-14—game on !!

But wouldn’t you know it? The Lloydies responded with a breakout try to Doi from the kick-off to lead 24-14.

The Lloydies had the vibe and they finished with a signature hot-potato try to win the match 32-14.

Wrap-up

The Lloydies win the Division II competition most years. What do they have to do to earn the right to play in Division I?

And why should NSW get three teams? Why don’t the Lloydies play in Division I and Country in Division II?.