Waratahs U15s teens in heartbreaker against Queensland Reds rugby academy
There was heartbreak for one and elation for the other. The annual battle between the Waratahs and Reds U15s had it all, including a match clinching last minute penalty.
There was heartbreak for one side and elation for the other as the annual battle between the Waratahs and Reds U15s produced a thrilling finish few saw coming.
The Waratahs paid a high price for conceding a penalty near time to be left shattered by a one point loss at Forshaw Park in Sydney’s south on a chill and blustery afternoon.
The Reds 20-19 victory came after the young Waratahs had led the Reds 14-3 at the halftime break.
“They are still digesting it,’’ said coach John Carters.
“There were a lot of penalties in that second half and I reckon the Reds had 70 per cent possession.’’
The Waratahs were also a man down just before the final horn in a match they went into as firm favourites.
“I thought they played some really good football in the first half,’’ Carters said.
“We had plenty of opportunity but there were a couple we didn’t ice and it hurt us.’
The Waratahs ran onto the field with the advantage of having beaten the Reds 27-19 in their first match-up last weekend.
On Saturday in Sydney, the Waratahs opened the match well to score two tries in the first half of the annual battle.
Outside centre Eduardo Garcia went over first with Finn Hannon then going over in the opening 18 minutes.
Two conversions from Wilson Ruthven put the Waratahs up 14-3 at the halftime break.
In a great performance Garcia scored his second try after the break with the Queenslanders then going over for the first time with a conversion leaving the Reds trailing 19-10.
Billy Spicer then made things interesting with a second try for the Reds with the conversion leaving them trailing by just two.
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A penalty kick nailed late in the match by Chilli Tonelli-Smith delivered the Reds the one-point thriller.
Jayden Richards was also good for the Waratahs, doing a mountain of work in defence in the entertaining battle.
“He does the stuff other people don’t put their hand up to do,’’ Carters said.
“He’s a really gritty player.
“I also thought all our backs were good. Finn really sparked things up and Wilson controlled well which was exciting to see.
“They will learn good things from this game.’’
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Waratahs U15s for match two: 1 Asera Peniata, 2 Talmage Lemusu, 3 Ben Baretto, 4 Oscar Forsey, 5 Marlee Thomas, 6 Jayden Richards, 7 Tom Symons, 8 Jharall Sione, 9 Izak Holmes, 10 Wilson Ruthven, 11 Julian Minto, 12 Charlie Xureb, 13 Eduardo Garcia, 14 Asher Chapman, 15 Finn Hannon, 16 Archie Hill, 17 Billy Miller, 18 Kaiasi Talaki, 19 Cooper Williams, 20 Cordell Arama, 21 Levi Ellis, 22 Payton Tarau, 23 Zac Gedz
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