Gallery: Stars, scorers as 16-year-old starts, Waratahs score eight tries in Reds U18s battle
There were tries galore, send-offs and some head-turning moves from another as the next generation of rugby battled in the annual Waratahs U18s v Reds grudge match. PHOTO GALLERY
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The Waratahs U18s have cleansweep the annual two-game grudge series against the Reds thanks to an eight-try spree in a match where a 16-year-old started, another rising star returned and a mercurial captain claimed man of the match honours.
The Waratahs cracked the half ton in their whopping 54-14 at Concord Oval against their academy opposites in sluggish and wet conditions on Saturday.
Captain Marshall Le Maitre was both a two-try hero and man of the match, earning high praise for his skill and leadership from coach Mike Snowden who rated him as “simply exceptional’’.
“Man of the match was Marshall, he was just outstanding, simply exceptional,’’ Snowden said.
“It’s his work off the ball, the things he does that no ones else does, or sees.’’
Also turning heads was schoolboy Justice Taumoepeau, who only turned 16 on Monday and started for the Waratahs against opposition up to two years his senior.
“Today just reaffirmed what I have said about Justice and how good he is,’’ Snowden said.
“No none would have thought in nay way that was a 16-year-old kid out there.
“He is an excellent, excellent prospect.’’
Snowden was also delighted to see another rising star of the game Zion Poitaha make his mark off the bench in only his second game for the Waratahs in over a year.
“He was a bit quiet last week because he hadn’t played since the under 16s final two years,’’ the Waratahs U18s coach said.
“But every time he got near anything today on the field he was very good.
Most pleasing for Snowden was a dangerous patch in the second half where the Tahs were two men down following the yellow card send-offs of hooker Poni Ravubale and No. 10 Joe Walsh
“Key for us as during that 12, 13 minute period when we only had 13 blokes on we managed to put three points on the scoreboard on them.
“And eight tries was very impressive given the conditions.’’
Edwin Langi impressed in the first half with Isaac Fonua also earning praise from Snowden.
“Our best forward by a mile in the first half was Issac. He was in everything,’’ Snowden said.
“Henry Connick and Riley Evans, when they cam in were outstanding. They gave us real punch in eh midfield.
“And off the bench Harper Strachan, the replacement loose head, he came on and immediately we started winning scrum penalties.
“He was very sharp.’’
The Reds scored just one try in both halves of the match the Waratahs dominated after a slow start.
Le Maitre scored his two tries in the first half along with Jay McKenzie, Tom Hartman and Henry Conick to help the Tahs to their 30-7 halftime lead.
Lewis Wilson scored the Waratahs sixth try, Tom Farr Jones off the bench their seventh and Hayden Lavercombe, who also scored in game one, their eighth.
WARATAHS AND REDS U18 TEAMS FOR GAME 2 2024
WARATAHS (1-15): Nicholas Hill, Poni Ravubale, Edwin Langi, Isaac Fonua, Toby Brial, Luca Cleverley, Marshall Le Maitre (c), Justice Taumoepeau, Sam Blank, Joe Walsh, Tom Hartman, Henry Conick, Riley Evans, Jay McKenzie, Charlie Poynton
Reserves: Riley Osborn, Harper Strachan, Lewis Wilson, Edward Baxter, Zion Poitaha, Angus Grover, Harrison Dene, Tom Watts, Hayden Lavercombe, Tom Farr-Jones
REDS (1-15): Kingsley Uys, Ewald Kruger, Lehopoama Leota (c), William Ross, Bennett Armistead, Eli Langi, Jye Crothers, Teina Graham, Stan Keats, Finn Mackay, Tom Howard, Chace Oates, Chris Jensen, Nick Conway, Treyvon Pritchard
Reserves: John Grenfell, Daniel Christodoulou, Emil Willie-Jawai, Will Pascoe, Josh Takai, Sam Watson, Callum Simpson
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Originally published as Gallery: Stars, scorers as 16-year-old starts, Waratahs score eight tries in Reds U18s battle
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