A nail-bitting match up for Round 2 of the U15 Queensland vs NSW tournament kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Off the back of the strong performance by NSW in Round 1 last Sunday, The Waratahs U15s were favourites leading into the match with momentum and the desire to make a strong, explosive start. With winds reaching 32 km/h the Reds began the game by kicking off.
From the opening whistle, the Tahs put together back-to-back strong tackles before kicking to send the ball flying down the sideline, followed by an impressive kick chase. Oscar Forsey gathered the ball, throwing dummy passes to shake off a defender before passing to Charlie Xureb, who spun and flicked it onto Eduardo Garcia for a brilliant opening try for the Tahs. Wilson Ruthven’s successful conversion brought the score to 7-0 just 40 seconds into the half.
The Tahs then switched into defensive mode predominantly staying in their defensive half as the Reds challenged across the field. Minutes later an offside call against the Tahs, saw the Reds gain their first three points of the game.
The half continued with the Tahs showcasing solid team defence, working together to ensure their line remained unbroken. Jayden Richards broke through the Reds defensive with an impressive sprint up the sideline in front of the passionate NSW supporters but was unfortunately dragged out by strong Reds defence.
A high kick from the Reds saw fullback Fin Hannon catch the ball and quickly pass it to scrumhalf Izak Holmes. The two sprinted up the sideline, flicking the ball between each other, leaving all NSW defenders behind as Hannon dived over the try line, completing an 80-metre run.
Marle Thomas caught a heavily contested kick restart, twisting to the ground, marking a dominant first quarter for the Tahs. A play between Fin Hannon and Wilson Ruthven seemed to have secured another try for the Tahs, but the referee ruled a forward pass.
The physicality of the game was on full display as both sides exchanged hard tackles, showcasing their passion for their state. Just before the end of the first half, the Tahs pushed hard with a driving maul, completing back-to-back phases but were unlucky not to add more points, heading into halftime with a 14-3 lead.
The second half started almost as fast as the first, with the Tahs quickly adding to their score. Eduardo Garcia stripped the ball from the Reds just meters from their try line, and the team worked hard to push through the middle in an attempt to drive it over. The ball was then passed out to the wing and eventually returned to Garcia, who scored a well-deserved try off the back of his earlier effort. A missed conversion from the Tahs signalled the beginning of a momentum shift in favour of the Reds, who began to dominate the second half. The Reds appeared poised to score a try as their dominance built, but Fin Hannon made an impressive low tackle to save a try.
A try from Reds player Harlem Faalafi, followed by a yellow card issued to a Tahs player, left the Waratahs in a precarious position, playing with just 14 men. Another try for the Reds saw Billy Spicer cross the line followed by a successful conversion, narrowing the Tahs' lead to just 2 points with only minutes remaining.
Another yellow card to the Tahs forced them to tighten their defence to maintain their lead. Unfortunately, they gave away a penalty in line with the posts, allowing the Reds to take the lead. "We started strong, but they outplayed us in the second half," said NSW captain Wilson Ruthven. "I am proud of all the boys for sticking with it the entire time. A huge thanks to all the coaching staff for sacrificing their holidays and putting in so much effort for us. We all appreciate it. Well done to the Queensland side, and thank you for the tournament."
Try Scorers:
Eduardo Garcia
Finn Hannon
Eduardo Garcia
Conversions:
Wilson Ruthven 2/3
