Waratahs v Queensland Reds U18s teenage stars, tryscorers, top players in game one

One player ‘gave everything’, another teen starred off the bench. The U18s rugby standouts from the first Waratahs and Reds clash for 2024. Stars, tryscorers and result wrap.

Waratahs' Luca Cleverley was one of the standouts. Picture: John Appleyard

A fired-up Waratahs U18s side staged an entertaining three-try second half comeback to draw first blood in their annual series with the Queensland Reds at Ballymore but their coach wants to see more from his charged in game two on Saturday.

The Waratahs win included a standout performance from Luca Cleverley, 15 year-old Justice Taumoepeau scoring off the bench, Harrison Dene nailing four conversions and the Waratahs coming back from a try down at halftime to take the match 33-26.

It also featured a great try from a big prop which turned plenty of heads but a lack of discipline coach Mike Snowden has concerns about.

“We were pretty concerned about our sides lack of discipline. We invited them into our end and they capitalised on that,’’ Snowden said.

“But when we held the ball and stuck to our game we scored.’’

Qld Reds' Lehopo Leota cops a big hit from Waratahs' Edwin Langi and Nick Ashdown in an under 18s battle last year. Langi scored in the weekend’s battle.

Snowden said he was more pleased with his young charges in the eh second half after trailing leading into the sheds.

“We juts told them we wanted them to be patient,’’ he said.

“It was also a different second half with the breeze at our back.

“There was also really stout goal line defence. It wans;t perfect but it was willing.’’

Snowden identified Cleverley as the standout for the Waratahs.

“He was the best on the park. he just gives everything he has,’’ Snowden said.

“His work rate is exceptional.

“And he also scored at a time it mattered.’’

Snowden said Taumoepeau off the bench also made a real impact for the Waratahs.

“We got a lot form him. He was everywhere and he carried very well for us.

“The other player was Jay McKenzie when he got his chances in space.

“And it’s not often you see your loose head prop running 40 odd metres to score.’’

The Marshall le Maitre lead Waratahs scored off a rolling maul two minutes into the match, with Eastern suburbs young gun Edwin Langi crashing over.

A successful conversion then gave the Tahs a handy 7-0 early lead.

Waratahs' Luca Cleverley with the ball in a match in late 2023. He was a standout on the weekend. Picture: John Appleyard

But in the sixth minutesReds star Tom Howard scooped up a loose ball to punish the Waratahs for a fumbling error.

The conversion left the two sides locked at 7-7 after just seven minutes.

The Waratahs copped back-to-back scrum penalties as the Reds amped up their attack with repeated assaults on the line.

Loose head prop Kingsley Uys from the Southport school finally got over around the 19th minute.

The Waratahs responded just minutes later with Riley Osborn scoring off a pick and go. And another conversion levelling the match 14-14.

The Reds re-took the lead courtesy of a try from winger Nick Conway less than 30 minutes before heading to the sheds up 21-14.

A burst of energy saw the Waratah some close to scoring twice in the opening stanza of the second half.

Cleverley finally rewarded the Waratahs for their work ethic with a try then converted off the hot boot of Dene.

Kingsley Uys was a standout for the Reds

Charlie Poynton was unlucky not to score again for the Waratahs late in the second after falling just short in a mad has down the field to try and convert ere unlucky not to score

But big front-rower Hayden Lavercombe then saved the day with Dene converting to put the Waratahs ahead at 28-21.

Justice Taumoepeau, still two days off his 16th birthday, then ran over for the Tahs fifth try with Howard scoring the Reds fourth - and his second - to keep the Reds in the game and the pressure on the Waratahs with 15 to play.

But the Tahs held on to claim bragging rights heading into next weeks return match in Sydney.

Reds v Waratahs Teams for U18 match at Ballymore

NSW WARATAHS (1-15): Nicholas Hill, Riley Osborn, Edwin Langi, Zion Poitaha, Isaac Fonua, Luca Cleverley, Marshall Le Maitre (c), Toby Brial, Angus Grover, Harrison Dene, Jay McKenzie, Kahu Capper, Tom Watts, Tom Hartman, Charlie Poynton

Reserves Poni Ravubale, Hayden Lavercombe, Lewis Wilson, Charlie Ulcoq, Justice Taumoepeau, Sam Blank, Matt Gough, Tom Farr-Jones, Keegan Daly, Henry Conick

QUEENSLAND REDS (1-15): Kingsley Uys, Ewald Kruger, Lehopoama Leota, William Ross, Bennett Armistead, Tom Robinson (c), Joe Gray, Teina Graham, Sam Watson, Finn Mackay, Tom Howard, Angus Kelly, Josh Takai, Nick Conway, Treyvon Pritchard

Reserves: Blaze Moana, Daniel Christodoulou, Jonah Rangiwai, Eli Langi, Jye Crowthers, Stan Keats, Chace Oates, Chris Jensen, John Grenfell, Wallace Charlie

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Originally published as Waratahs v Queensland Reds U18s teenage stars, tryscorers, top players in game one