A heated Ballymore battle saw a fierce showdown between the Queensland Reds U15 and NSW Waratahs U15 teams with NSW ultimately returning home victorious.
Off the back of a commanding 40-7 victory in last year’s Game 1, the Waratahs U15s were eager to make the journey up the coast to reignite the fierce interstate rivalry and return victorious once again. The scorching 32-degree Ballymore heat paired with zero breeze set the stage for a fiery battle between the two sides.
The Waratahs opened the game going ruck for ruck, immediately putting the Reds on the back foot as they were forced to dig deep and defend their try line from the outset. Just two minutes in, a tactical kicking duel between the sides fullbacks unfolded, with both teams jostling for field position advantage. The Waratahs ultimately gained the upper hand with Asher Chapman powering through two defenders, threatening to open the scoring only to be held up just short of the try line.
The Reds capitalised on their defensive effort and found themselves deep in Waratahs territory before Harlem Faalafi produced a moment of brilliance, kicking the ball and regathering then skilfully flicked it to Billy Spicer. Waratahs player Jayden Richards put in an impressive last line tackle, nearly preventing the score, but Spicer managed to touch down putting the Reds on the board.
After the Reds' dominant play, the Waratahs looked to shift the momentum with standout player Finn Hannon leading the charge. Determined to turn the tide, Hannon chased down a loose ball and sprinted 30 meters up the field before being met by a strong Reds tackle. Building on this momentum, Hannon quickly offloaded to Asher Chapman, who powered over the try line to secure the Waratahs' first points of the match.
With the scoreboard starting to shift, the young players on both sides began to feel the weight of the interstate rivalry, their emotions running high. A brief disturbance in play highlighted the intensity and effort each team was pouring into the heated contest.
Two error riddled scrums from the Reds led to back-to-back penalties for the Waratahs, giving them a valuable opportunity to apply pressure. A perfectly executed lineout followed, bringing the Tahs close to scoring once again, only to fall just short of the try line.
Shortly after, another Reds indiscretion resulted in a penalty for the Waratahs directly in front of the posts. Captain Wilson Ruthven stepped up calmly and slotted the three points, putting the Tahs up by one point. Ben Baretta ensured the Waratahs headed into halftime with the upper hand, scoring a controversial try just before the break. Baretta managed to roll over the try line despite heavy defence and the try was awarded. Wilson Ruthven swiftly added the conversion, sending the Tahs into the half with a 15-7 lead and importantly with momentum firmly on their side.
The second half kicked off with an impressive counter-ruck from the Waratahs followed by a dynamic combination between Charlie Xureb and Asher Chapman. This saw Chapman dart down the sideline to secure his second try of the day, further extending the Tahs' lead.
The Reds responded valiantly, launching a series of strong mauls that eventually allowed them to shift the ball to the sideline, where Harrison Taylor found space to add 5 points for his side securing a Reds try.
Later in the half, the Waratahs backs displayed their attacking prowess with a series of powerful runs. Izak Holmes flicked the ball to Charlie Xureb, who quickly passed it to Asher Chapman, completing his hat trick and cementing the Tahs' commanding position.
The final try of the match came from the Reds, who executed a powerful rolling maul to cross the line. However, their attempt at the conversion fell short, leaving them unable to capitalize fully on their late-game surge.
After a heated well contested game the final score was a 27-19 victory to the Waratahs
Try Scorers:
Asher Chapman x3
Ben Baretto
Conversions:
Wilson Ruthven x2
Penalty:
Wilson Ruthven
