Pumas pump Randwick in front of massive crowd as Galloping Greens farewell Andrew Walker
A huge crowd filled Coogee Oval on Saturday afternoon to farewell Randwick legend Andrew Walker — and watch the Pumas pummel the Galloping Greens.
Rugby
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It won’t be remembered as fondly as the clash against the All Blacks in 1988, but Randwick’s loss to Argentina at a packed Coogee Oval on Saturday demonstrated that passion for rugby remains strong in Sydney.
The Pumas won 74-0, dual-code star Andrew Walker bid adieu to competitive footy, and a sellout crowd of 5000, as well as many perched on nearby balconies, rooftops and even exercise cycles at the upstairs gymnasium across the road applauded the return of a Test team to a suburban ground.
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“It was the best atmosphere I’ve had for a club game, unfortunately we couldn’t get over the line, it would have been good to hear them go off,” Randwick half Mitch Short said.
Argentina tuned up for their World Cup campaign — they’re pooled with northern heavyweights England and France — with a ruthless demolition of a young Randwick side featuring emerging stars Short, Will Harrison, Jeral Skelton, Josh Gordon and Christian Poidevin.
In 1988 the All Blacks had a scare against a Wallaby-laden Wicks side before prevailing 25-9.
But after an even first quarter, the Pumas ran riot in this clash.
“We’ve been training here during Super Rugby and during The Rugby Championship,” Argentina captain Tomas Cubelli said, “and now to have the opportunity to play in front of all these people in Coogee was an unreal experience for us.”
Argentina came into the match ranked 11th in the world, while Randwick had finished eighth in the Shute Shield.
In wind so powerful only one runway at Sydney Airport was open, there was errant kicking early.
But the newly unveiled Ella Brothers/Whitney scoreboard showed Argentina leading 40-0 after 45 minutes.
Randwick then mounted their best period of the game, winning a scrum against the feed and pressuring Argentina’s defence with numerous phases over the next 10 minutes, however they came away pointless after several turnovers.
The emphasis of Argentina’s win was established by replacement winger Bautista Delguy, who notched four tries in eight minutes from the 62nd.
Argentina take the spoils at Randwick. Great game of rugby. #apacrugby #randwick #gallopinggreens #LosPumas #rwc2019 #drufc pic.twitter.com/JxV7aCuwR8
— ðŸ‰RugbyRog🉠(@rugbyrodge) September 7, 2019
In his farewell match, Walker was put on with 10 minutes remaining and a 62-point deficit he could not have pulled back in his prime.
Walker’s first touch drew an enormous cheer from the crowd, and he did throw some trademark passes but the Pumas’ pressure overwhelmed the hosts and two late tries gave them 12 for the match.
Argentina scored five first-half tries to lead 33-0 at the break, however it took them 18 minutes to get on the board.
A game young Randwick side began with desperate intent in defence and pulled off commendable tackles on their line in the first quarter.
But the Pumas began wearing down their resistance, and scored their first try through Cubelli after No. 8 Tomas Lezana broke powerfully from a scrum and offloaded to the halfback.
Four minutes later Argentina had another, when hooker Julian Montoya crashed through from a lineout drive.
Veteran Juan Manuel Liguizamon was next to score after a Montoya delivered a smart offload to the backrower who twisted through three Greens defenders.
The home crowd rose in voice when Randwick winger Josh Gordon burst through the defence from his own quarter, but the attacking raid was turned over midfield and Argentina orchestrated a clever counter-attack that led to a try by open side flanker Marcos Kremer.
As the halftime siren sounded, Wicks five-eighth Ben Donaldson attempted a chip over the defence that was snapped up by the Pumas, and a quick spread allowed winger Santiago Carreras to score in the corner.
Pumas veteran Agustin Creevy set up one try and scored another late in the match.