The NSW Waratahs U19s overpowered the Queensland Reds 57–17 on Saturday afternoon in Narrabri, running in nine tries to claim their second straight win of the Super Rugby U19 season.
Captain Marshall Le Maitre played a starring role with two tries while a sharp display from scrum-half Sam Blank and a hat-trick to winger Tom Watts saw the Waratahs surge to a dominant victory in the Santos Festival of Rugby clash.
Luca Cleverley and the forward pack laid the platform with strong set piece work, giving the Waratahs front-foot ball all afternoon and setting the tone for a comprehensive team performance.
It took just three minutes before Australian under-20s forward Edwin Langi crashed over the line to open the scoring for the Waratahs.
However the Reds soon replied as scrum half James Prole landed a cross-field kick for Jackson Hill to touch down.
Moments later Le Maitre lurked at the back of a short-side ruck, took a pass from Blank and sliced through the Reds' defence to score his first five points of the game.
Following a dash up the right flank by winger Tom Farr-Jones, the Waratahs shifted the ball until it found the safe hands of Watts, who slipped past the last defender to extend the lead.
A yellow card to the Reds left their defensive line a man short and on the back of a dominant scrum from the Waratahs forwards, Watts crossed for his second.
In the dying minutes of the first half Reds centre Josh Takai scored but the Waratahs led 26-10 at the break.
A string of well-drilled lineouts kept the Waratahs rolling after half-time, with hooker Tyler Maybery peeling off the back to crash over and set the tone for the second half.
Moments later, an almost carbon copy move down the opposite touchline saw Le Maitre secure his second try.
The Reds showed they weren’t ready to fold, striking back with a long-range counter through the middle of the park as a classy inside ball found Angus Kelly.
When the Waratahs bench was injected into the game at Dangar Park, momentum swung firmly back in favour of the NSW side.
Farr-Jones and Aron Brennan both found the line to push the score past 50 and reinforce the team’s title credentials ahead of a showdown with the defending champion ACT Brumbies at Viking Park next Saturday
Match Details
NSW Waratahs (57) defeat Queensland Reds (17)
Location: Dangar Park, Narrabri
NSW Waratahs (57)
Tries: Tom Watts (3), Marshall Le Maitre (2), Edwin Langi (1), Tyler Maybery (1), Tom Farr-Jones (1), Aron Brennan (1)
Conversions: Henry Conick (6/9)
Queensland Reds (17)
Tries: Josh Takai (1), Angus Kelly (1), Jackson Hill (1)
Conversions: Lesimaikimatuku (1/3)
