The NSW Waratahs will host the Super Rugby U19 Grand Final after pulling off a 62-38 comeback victory over the ACT Brumbies at Viking Park on Saturday.
In a tale of two halves, the Brumbies dominated the opening 40 minutes before the Waratahs produced a rampant second half to overturn the 10-point deficit and continue a remarkable run of scoring more than 50 points in every game this season.
The two sides will meet again in the Grand Final next Sunday at Warringah Rugby Club, as part of a double-header with the Super Rugby U16 fixture.
The Brumbies struck first from a scrum inside the Waratahs’ red zone, spreading the ball wide to left wing Blake Miller, who finished for the opening try.
Minutes later, flanker Charlie Baker sliced through a narrow Waratahs defensive line to score his side’s second five pointer.
A misread off a lineout left the Waratahs exposed again and Brumbies number eight, Eli Langi slipped over almost immediately.
The Waratahs finally hit back when captain and flanker Marshall Le Maitre recognised a lapse in the Brumbies’ defence and took a quick tap, racing onto the ball to get the Waratahs on the scoreboard.
The Brumbies answered with a powerful rolling maul which ended with hooker Ewald Kruger grounding a fourth try for the home side.
The Waratahs then steadied, building phases and proving they were up for the fight. Lock Ed Baxter bundled over from close range to cut the margin, and moments later Le Maitre drove the side upfield before inside centre Mitchell Holmes broke the line and dotted down. Fly-half Henry Conick’s third successful conversion pulled the Waratahs to within five.
However, the Brumbies grabbed one more score after the half-time siren, an unconverted try which left them ahead 31-21 at the break.
Soon after half-time fullback Louis Fenwick produced a moment of individual brilliance - fending off a series of defenders to barge over and put the Waratahs back within touching distance.
However Brumbies fullback Harvey McLean answered almost immediately with a quick try and successful conversion which pushed the margin back out.
Fenwick had his second after right wing Max Roach made a linebreak, recycled the ball and found the Waratahs fullback in space.
Next, outside centre Riley Osborn burrowed over and Conick’s successful conversion pushed the Waratahs into the lead for the first time in the game.
From there momentum was well and truly in the visitors’ favour as Le Maitre split the defence with a powerful surge up the middle, inspiring a move that put Osborn over for his second try.
With the floodgates opening, scrum-half James Thompson, winger Dante Siale and number eight Charlie Bull all touched down in the final ten minutes to seal the result.
The Waratahs now return to Sydney filled with confidence as they begin preparations for next week’s Grand Final against the ACT Brumbies.
Match Details
NSW Waratahs (64) defeat ACT Brumbies (38)
Location: Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union Club
NSW Waratahs (64)
Tries: Riley Osborn (2), Louis Fenwick (2), Marshall Le Maitre (1), Mitchell Holmes (1), James Thompson (1), Dante Siale (1), Ed Baxter (1), Charlie Bull (1)
Conversions: Henry Conick (7/10)
ACT Brumbies (38)
Tries: Ewald Kruger (2), Charlie Baker (1), Chace Oates (1), Blake Miller (1), Harvey McLean (1)
Conversions: Chace Oates (3/5), Harvey McLean (1/1)
