Queensland Reds U16s, U19s punched their Super Rugby finals ticket in style on Sunday as hooker Finlay King and halfback James Martens score seven tries between them in the U19s’ victory over Rebels
A dynamic duo from Wests delivered seven tries between them in the Queensland Reds Under-19s’ thumping win over the Rebels on Sunday. All you need to know here including how the under-16s scorched at Ballymore.
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Wests Bulldogs Colts 1 hooker Finlay King scored four first half tries as the Queensland Reds Under-19s punched their Super Rugby grand final ticket in style on Sunday at Ballymore.
The prolific King cashed in four times in the opening 40 minutes against the visiting Melbourne Rebels. A 67-0 bonus-point victory followed, which cemented a spot in the big dance staged next Sunday at Ballymore and against the Brumbies.
The Reds needed a bonus-point to leapfrog the Waratahs and book a spot in the final after the NSW team had earlier in the season lost to the Brumbies.
The Reds beat the Brumbies in round two so they will fancy their chances provided another performance like the one they produced on Sunday ensues.
The Reds under-16s, who beat the Rebels 46-11, will also feature in next Sunday’s Super Rugby grand final against the Waratahs who will be looking to claim their third successive title in this competition.
But it was King who will head into next weekend’s finale feeling bulletproof after his four-try special captured a telling 24-0 halftime lead for the Reds. A lead that mounted at frantic speed in a blistering second half effort by the home side.
With lock Charlie Brosnan an outstanding lineout target and props Byron Murphy and Trevor King extra physical, Finlay King often found himself at the back of a vicious rolling maul that motored forward whenever the chance presented itself.
King made no mistake crashing over and he could have bagged five had another one of his tries (Trevor King penalised for truck-and-trailer) been awarded.
Finlay, the rolling maul specialist from the Kennel, was given an early mark with 30 minutes to play when the Reds substitutions came on and made a devastating impact.
SUPERSUBS STAR
The Reds will enter next weekend’s grand final with their tails up after their entire squad of 23 engineered a demolition job in the final round of the five-round regular season.
They scored 11 tries, let in none, scummed the Rebels out of the game and even owned lineout time where Fergus Gillan and Charlie Brosnan feasted, both attacking and defending lineouts.
In the first half the scrummaging of Murphy, Finlay King and Trevor King was marvellous. In the second stanza, Cooper Hoare and hulking The Southport School schoolboys Kingsley Uys and Jonah Rangiwai were dominant in that space, earning a handful of penalties.
That trio were part of an energetic contingent of supersubs that ran in 43 points during a second half showcase of running rugby.
Reserve scrumhalf James Martens was at the epicentre, taking advantage of tired bodies around the ruck to score three tries.
He made a sensational impact running in a hattrick, Martens tapping quickly for Dom Kallquist’s second try and kicking a 50-22 to set up Samu Tuisau’s try early in the half.
The quickness, elusiveness and high-tempo game of Martens was just magic.
BACK LIKE THEY NEVER LEFT
Flyhalf Will Nason (Jaw) and Charlie Cooke (Shoulder) returned from injury with gusto to have a small but significant say in the Reds’ confident boosting victory.
Nason recovered quickly from a jaw injury that was set to sideline him for the whole competition and he looked primed to make an impact, alongside Wests’ athletic marvel Charlie Cooke who was out with an injury he sustained to his shoulder blade during the club season.
Both boys didn’t miss a beat. Nason’s fine passing and footwork was a flashy feature of the Reds’ rip-roaring second half performance while Cooke burst through the defence in a 40m charge downfield to lay the foundations for his team’s next score.
Rockhampton talent Dom Kallquist also flourished with more opportunities scoring two tries, while the potency of hardworking backrowers Noah Rauluni, Tom Robinson and Vaiuta Latu shone through.
In the under-16s clash, the Reds prevailed 46-11 over the Rebels after trailing 6-5 at half time.
The Queenslanders looked to be running down hill in the second half where they ran in seven unanswered tries.
This was after the Rebels had extended their lead to 11-5 straight after oranges.
Off the bench, fullback Dylan Terblanche, hooker Aiden Luke, lock Jack Calleja and scrumhalf Kobi Nouanrasy made a wonderful impact to turn the tide.
The Reds had taken their foot off the pedal and struggled to turn field position into points. Slowly but surely in the second stanza, the home side wriggled out of their rut and started their demolition through both the forwards and backs.
Flyhalf Oliver Kennedy, hooker Luke (two tries), backrower Dyer Akauola, centre Pierre Poluleuligaga, prop Harrison Asi and winger Troy Waike all scored tries in the second half after impressive flanker Lane Edmonds had charged over in the opening five minutes to grab an early lead.
As is so often the case with these Reds Academy teams, it was a halfback who made a difference.
On Sunday it was Nouanrasy who sparked life into the Queenslanders with his speedy service, long passing, scheming running game and productive box kicking.
Nouanrasy fit a whole games worth into his short but effective cameo off the bench in the second half and it was just what the doctor ordered after a plucky Rebels outfit had stunned the Reds starters by scoring two long distance tries to compliment great determination in defence.
FIDOCK’S FANCY FOOTWORK
He plays in the halves in rugby league but in rugby he is one of the slipperiest going around the Super Rugby Under-16 competition.
Fidock’s fancy footwork produced a handful more highlights in round 5 and on one occasion he was a good bounce away from scoring a stunning 50m individual chip-and-chase try after darting infield from his wing.
The Somerset College speedster looked dangerous whenever he got the ball and could evade his first defender with ease regardless of how fast they had rushed up in defence.
On the other wing, Troy Waike ran straight and hard and was always in support. His support lines was what earnt him a try in the final moments after Kennedy, Keegan Cooke and Terblanche had combined swiftly on the left edge.
BREAKAWAY BRILLIANCE
In the first half, the work of flankers Lane Edmonds and Keegan Cook delivered the Reds their best attacking opportunities and front foot ball.
Cook was arguably the top forward on the ground and Edmonds wasn’t far behind him as the pair put on their working boots and grafted hard to get their team within striking distance.
They also muscled up on defence, with Cook a key link in attack where he made a smart pop pass to Terblanche who put Waike over for the Reds’ eighth try on the cusp of time.
Breakdown brute Manasa Vunibola (lock), captain courageous Agapetos Lote-Felo (No.8) and Luke (reserve hooker) were also impressive.
The Reds will host the Waratahs in next week’s Super Rugby decider, a repeat of last year’s finale, to see who is crowned champion.
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