Waratahs v Reds stars, standouts scorers in epic U18s rugby battle at Ballymore

Fighting spirit, a great save, a two-try star and dread helped produced an epic battle as the best and brightest teenagers in the Waratah and Reds U18s Academies battled. Stars, result wrap

Oliver Smith, playing in the Super Rugby U16s last year, was one of numerous scorers for the Waratahs against the Reds on Saturday. Picture: John Appleyard.

Fighting spirit, a great save, a two-try star and dread combined to help deliver the NSW Waratahs a rollicking 50-33 victory against their rugby rivals the Queensland Reds in a thrilling U18s match at Ballymore on Saturday.

TJ Talaileva scored two tries, Jonty Fowler produced a desperate but effective flying tackle to thwart a late comeback by the Reds and the Waratahs starters and bench fought as a group to as they worked overtime to prevent creating history as the first U18s side to go down to the Reds in their annual battles.

In a memorable match between the future stars of Super Rugby and the Wallabies the Waratahs produced a blue chip second half performance to steal the match away from the Reds.

By match end the Waratahs had racked up an impressive 17 point win after trailing by nine at halftime.

“I was a bit stressed at some stages of that game in the first half,’’ admitted coach Angus Sinclair after the game.

“It really was a game of two halves and we put ourselves under a lot of pressure in the first. ”In the second we tried to do the simple things well.’’

Jarvis Orr, pictured competing in another match, was one of the stars of the show in Queensland on Saturday. Picture: Julian Andrews

Sinclair was delighted with the effort from his bench which helped the Waratahs outstay the Reds in high heat and humidity.

“There was a lot of cramp going on out there. They did well,’’ Sinclair said.

Sinclair identified a number of players as standouts for him in the match.

“Jarvis Orr is everywhere and TJ had a big game. He is just so hard to stop’’ Sinclair said.

“That tackle in the corner by Jonty was crucial. That wasn't his best game but those efforts win games.

“And Jarryd King was outstanding. He closed down a lot of their opportunity.’’

Brock Prideaux was another who impressed Sinclair.

“He is a little unknown but our first pick winger.

“He attacked the game, any time he had a sniff he went after it.’’

Jarvis Orr has had plenty of experience batting off Reds defenders.

The young talent from both academies put on a show in an entertaining first half highlighted by two quick tries just before the break from Queenslanders Tai Taka and flyer Treyvon Pritchard.

Their four tries and four conversions put the Reds ahead 28-19 at the break to the delight of the locals at Ballymore.

Isaac Rauluni and Charlie Hollyman also scored in the first half for the Reds with captain Finn Mackay deadly with the boot for his four conversions and Isaac Kefu, son of Wallaby Toutai Kefu, another standout.

The Waratahs kept in touch with three tries and were unlucky not to score a fourth when Angus Grover just missed the tryline by a fingertip.

Talaileva opened the scoring for the Waratahs in the first half with Orr scoring next off a great pass from flying winger Prideaux with Ollie Smith over for the third of the opening half.

Busy fullback Max Palmasani scored a converted try in the opening 30 seconds of the second half to keep the Tahs within striking distance at 26-28.

In a feisty second half Talaileva then barged over for his second and the Waratahs fifth to wrestle control and the lead back from the Reds.

Ed Kasprowicz then got to score off a great pass from Orr against his old Reds teammates to put the Waratahs ahead at 38-28.

Damon Humpries showed the Reds would go down fighting, scoring a great try when down a man thanks to the yellow carding of Kingbenjamin Swerling.

Reserve tighthead Tyson Burden then got his moment in the sun with Noah Rylands coming off the bench to scvore the Waratahs final try of the match and help them to their emphatic 17 point win.

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Originally published as Waratahs v Reds stars, standouts scorers in epic U18s rugby battle at Ballymore