NSW Waratahs to host national rugby championship finale after U19 win v Force, stars, result wrap

The NSW Waratahs will host the finale of the U19 and U16 national rugby championship after a crucial win on the road. But it’s not all good news for the Tahs. Stars and standouts.

The NSW Waratahs Game from behind to beat Force. Pic: Julian Andrews

There was more than pride on the line for the Waratahs who needed the win to ensure they - and their U16 compatriots - would be able to host the decider of the U19 national rugby championships in Sydney on Sunday.

The 47-27 victory over Western Force in Perth on Sunday came after the Waratahs had trailed their hosts early but which has delivered them the hosting rights for the final of the event which has run over the past five weeks.

The seven try to three victory kept intact the Waratahs undefeated run in the tournament - across both the 19s and 16s - in a morale boosts for the NSW franchise ahead of the grand final.

Clem Halaholo in a match of the National U19 championships. Pics: Julian Andrews

And while the got the job done, the win may have come at a high price.

Already without Oskar Hicks for the match after he underwent surgery due to a leg injury, the Tahs might also have lost game changer Charlie Worthingotn who was red carded in the match.

And while unhappy with some aspects of the game against Force, Cross said the line-up for the grand final will be pretty similar.

“We are pretty clear on who our team is going to be,’’ he said from Perth..

“It was almost all who started but there will be a couple of slight adjustments now.’’

“It's a bit of a banana skin coming over here. We were a bit relaxed and we started poorly again. But we got home in the end.’’

Cross said Sam Allsopp was best on field for him with Clem Halaholo also impressive.

“Our back row, our six, seven, eight, were very good,’’ he said.

“Clem was good and so was Sam Allsopp.

“He was our best on field, Hayden Maher was good too.’’

Charlie Worthington has been a leading player in the series.

Halaholo was one of the Waratahs try scorers in the crucial match in which Western Force refused to concede defeat until the final whistle.

Charles Worthington, Lulu Paea and Jack Bowen also all scored.

Jack Barrett shed plenty of blood for his team after a knock on the forehead saw him tapped up on the field - then forced to leave briefly for more tapping - while Bertie Alcock came back from the sin bin to score in the second half.

Tom Morrison showed plenty of speed as he helped extend the Waratahs score to 38-22 with a second half try with Maher nailing the final try of the match to extend the Tahs win gap.

Bowen nailed five conversions with Jack Matthews kicking one in the Tahs 47-27 win.

Kauri Tipene-Grace kicked two conversions for Force with their try scorers Tyuan McGoin, Ihaia-Lee Kamizona-Heke, Hunta Boyes and Joshau Mongard all going over for tries.

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