How the Australian Club Championship and Reds versus Waratahs academy matches unfolded in Brisbane on Saturday
All you need to know about the Australian Club Rugby Championships final when Brothers’ strolled heartbreak hill, and also the Reds versus Waratahs academy bouts.
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Brothers will be left to rue a late missed opportunity which cost them a remarkable late victory over Easts, Sydney, in Saturday’s Australian Club Championship at Crosby Park.
Easts won 28-26 after a 28-nil advantage subsided to a gallant Brethren who almost defied the odds to snatch a late win.
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However, Brothers had a golden opportunity in a frantic and fantastic finish to the championships, but an attacking lineout chance went astray.
Moments before Easts secured an errant lineout throw, the Brothers scrum had earned a crucial penalty on halfway, enabling debutant flyhalf Jude Gibbs to advance Brothers into striking distance.
It was do or die for the back-to-back premiers of Queensland Premier Rugby, but the ball was fumbled - and that was it.
Phew. Easts were home, by the skin of their teeth and the Bernie Powers Trophy was heading south to Sydney.
“For our first hit out of the year I was super proud of the boys,” Easts captain Josh Boxer told Stan Sport.
“We had an extra week to prepare and it really paid off today. That last 40 was an absolute battle.”
Brothers livewire Will Cartwright, front row brute Theo Fourie, interchange scrumhalf Oscar Varrichio and the crafty Gibbs had scored tries to turn the match on its head and give vocal Brothers fans the finish they deserved.
“The Butchery here at brothers is something else,” said proud Brothers captain Will Wilson. “That’s why we always like to finish the second half running back to the supporters there. We get a huge lift off it.”
SECOND HALF SURGE
Brothers looked like they were running down hill in the second half when mounting a miraculous comeback.
Facing the southern end, the boys in butcher stripes piled on pressure to take Easts away from their game.
It was a stark contrast to the first 40 minutes where the visitors had all the ascendancy and scored four unanswered tries to take the wind out of their rivals.
Sharp outside centre Ben Dallecort, hooker Dom Fraser, big No.8 Brad Hemopo, Varricchio, Fourie and others helped turn the tide after all hope seemed lost.
Easts dominated in every sense of the word in their scorching first half showing. The game of two halves delivered Brothers the chance they’d worked so hard for when Gibbs scored a cracking try with five minutes left.
Easts led 28-26 and an unexpected hero arose in reserve scrumhalf Oli Nicolle. When Brothers were charging towards the tryline in pursuit of a match winning penalty goal or try, Nicolle made a brilliant legs tackle, found his feet and pilfered the ball to win a turnover.
It was his team’s biggest play of the game because it was the last time Brothers had possession in Easts’ 22m.
REDS V WARATAHS UNDER 18s
The Waratahs remain unbeaten by the Reds in the under-18s age group after the visitors pulled away to a rousing 50-33 win at Ballymore.
Queensland led 28-19 at the break following two quick tries by centre Tai Taka and wing Treyvon Pritchard.
However, surging out of the gates came the Waratahs to produce a five try second stanza burst and raise the half century.
The boys in sky Blue were inspired by robust blindside flanker TJ Talaileva, open side breakaway Jarvis Orr and No.8 enforcer Justice Taumoepeau who all came to life when the game hung in the balance at 28-26 in favour of the home side.
Fullback Max Palmasani, Talaileva, Nudgee old boy Ed Kasprowicz, Tyson Burden and Noah Rylands each scored tries in the ‘Tahs second half taming of the boys in maroon.
Queensland’s only try in that forty minute period was scored by utility Damon Humphrys and it came off the brilliant boot of arguably the best Reds back on the day, Finn Mackay.
MACKAY’S DEFT TOUCH
The left boot of Reds flyhalf Mackay was worth its weight in gold.
It delivered eight points in the first half when he slotted all his shots at goal and on the stroke of half time Mackay dabbed in a wonderful grubber kick which was planted by his winger Pritchard.
Mackay had the ball in his hands for less than a second after receiving a nice ball by impressive midfielder Harper Enasio. That was long enough for him to have Pritchard and Nick Conway on a goose chase for the perfectly-weighted grubber which rolled into the in-goal.
In the second half, 67 minutes into the match, Mackay had the poise and composure to pull off another effective grubber kick.
This time it was Humphrys who was in position to dot it down. The Padua ace did well to slam it down just before the ball went dead and make it 38-33.
It was timely because the ‘Tahs had just scored three unanswered tries to turn a 28-19 deficit into a 38-28 lead.
GLIMPSES OF MAGIC
Queensland’s chances slimmed when powerful prop Kingbenjamin Swirling (swinging arm) was sin-binned in the second half.
To their credit, they went toe-to-toe with NSW in that time and the gutsy defence on display, as well as the generally enterprising backline moves, bodes well for the future of rugby in Queensland.
There were big plays in key moments. Some of these included a timely scrum penalty won by prop Harrison Asi and his front row partners, presence of mind by dangerous winger Myles Rosemond whose chip kicks were positive, the tenacious midfield defence of Enasio and a lineout steal by towering lock Bennett Armistead when Queensland were seeking a go-ahead try.
Enasio’s best moment came when he popped up an offload to Taka while on the deck. Taka took off 25m to score under the sticks.
THE TRIES
+Charlie Hollyman rolling maul try. 7-0
+Waratahs try by TJ Talaileva off the lineout. 7-7.
+Waratahs flanker Jarvis Orr scores. 12-7.
+ Isaac Rauluni try. 14-12.
+ Oliver Smith for the Waratahs. 19-14.
+ Tai Taka try. 21-19.
+ Treyvon Pritchard try. 28-19 at half time.
+ Max Palmasani scores for Waratahs early in second half. 28-26.
+ Waratahs try by Talaileva. 33-28.
+ Ed Kasprowicz try. 38-28.
+ Damon Humphrys try for Queensland. 38-33.
+ Tyson Burden try for Waratahs. 43-33.
+ Noah Rylands try for Waratahs. 50-33.
REDS V WARATAHS UNDER 20S
The Waratahs will head south with two academy victories in the back pocket after the under-20s took charge to win well, 33-12.
Queensland struggled to gain ascendancy at any point, although Queensland did not benefit from early injuries to Frankie Goldsbrough (outside centre) and Daniel Malum (wing) - and had to work overtime when down a man for 10 minutes after Samu Tuisai was sent to the sin bin.
However the New South Welshmen were well served by dashing winger Brendan Palmer (two tries), fullback Brody McLaren, damaging outside centre Liam Grover, sound scrumhalf Hwi Sharples and an effective pack of forwards.
GILLAN, BROSNAN BRILLIANT
The Queensland Reds have a wealth of depth in their lock stocks but the club must find space somewhere in there for the likes of Fergus Gillan and Charlie Brosnan.
Head coach Les Kiss has Angus Blyth, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith and Seru Uru right now but the locking duo of Brosnan and Gilland have to be in the progression plans to succeed them when the time comes.
Gillan was godly in general play, tackling, pilfering and running well to keep the Reds in the match.
His second row partner Brosnan was ultra impressive as well. His white headgear was in everything, securing Reds lineouts and stealing ‘Tahs throws.
When Queensland needed something, one of these two had an answer to halt ominous Waratahs momentum and give their side a platform to build pressure themselves.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The stop-start clash, which featured countless scrum battles, didn’t leave the Reds backs with many opportunities to run rampant.
The match was won and lost in the trenches where flanker Tom Robinson and No.8 Vaiuta Latu stood their ground and counter punched where possible.
Robinson led the way as captain by making no mistakes, playing the full 80 minutes and contributing where he could with his carries.
The big yet skilful Latu shoulders hits from both opposition and teammate players and was a clobbering defender when it mattered.
Around them, tighthead prop Trevor King, scrumhalf supremo James Martens and midfielder Josh Takai stood tall against a well-gelled NSW outfit.
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