Round 12 served up another classic, with momentum swings, big boppers crashing over, and clutch kicks in the dying minutes. From nail-biters to blowouts, it was a weekend where mauls marched, tempers flared, and some backs reminded us they can step as well as sledge. Here’s how it all played out across Sydney.
Uni def Souths 58-22
The first points went to the Students, with Jack Matthews adding three. 3 to 0. Uni were on top early as Matthews added another. 6 to 0. Souths hit back with a juicy inside ball off the scrum. Struan Hutchison went through and found Mark Balaski. Hutchison converted. 6 to 7.
The first naughty moment came from Souths’ Lach Frean, tut, tut. Things got worse as Uni went to the line, earning a penalty try and sending Spencer Smallacombe to the bin. 13 to 7. The Rebels closed the gap with a Hutchison penalty. 13 to 10.
Benjy Joseland raced down the sideline for Uni, and Matthews converted. 20 to 10. Just before the break, Souths played quickly and shifted wide. The Frenchman, Antoine Garcia-Barrau, went over. 20 to 17.
Like an ancient gasket, the second half blew out. Garcia-Barrau, the third naughty boy, and Paddy Tagg both crossed. Matthews added two. 27 to 17. Clem Halaholo followed. 32 to 17. Uni’s forward pack kept rolling and Brad Amituanai bashed over. Matthews added two more. 39 to 17.
Souths managed a consolation with a lovely cut-out ball to Gavin Wood. 39 to 22. That was it for Souths, as Tom Watts strolled in and Matthews converted. 46 to 22. Dane Terekia was next, Matthews converted. 53 to 22. Declan Moore put the icing on the cake.
Eastwood def West Harbour 53-33
Harry Snook’s cross-field kick to Lachlan Shelley opened Woods’ account. 0 to 5. Jayden Henderson snuck down the touchline for their second. 0 to 10. Cole Spinks sliced through and dropped in a delicious grubber for Lachie Albert to scoop up. Spinks converted. 0 to 17. The dominance continued as a blindside raid put Shelley in for his second. 0 to 22. Kelly Ronan flopped over for their fifth. Spinks added two more. 0 to 29.
Finally, after the half-time bell, the retro sky blue and white Pirates hit back. Alefosio Aho crashed over and Morris Clementson converted. 7 to 29.
Spinks opened the second half with a penalty. 7 to 32. Woods kept rolling. Isaac Crowe continued his hot streak and Spinks converted. 7 to 39. Moments later, off a spicy counterattack, Crowe had his second. 7 to 46. A bit of hot potato saw Matty Gonzalez in under the sticks. Spinks converted. 7 to 53.
How good is a late surge? The Pirates hit the last quarter hard. Trent Bax tapped quick and dotted down. Clementson converted. 14 to 53. Onehunga Kafusi scooped up a loose ball and charged home. Clementson added two more. 21 to 53.
A wobbly cross-field kick from Clementson and a lucky bounce gave Amenisitai Naceru a clean run to the line. 26 to 53. With Woods asleep and the Pirates in full flight, a dubious bounce handed them their final try. Bax grabbed it.
his second. 33–53.
Gordon def Norths 22-18
Golden boot Matt Minogue kicked things off with three points. 3–0. Mr Baldy, James Margan, burrowed in for the first try. Minogue converted. 10–0. With ten to play, Will Kaye added three to the tally. 10–3. Right on the stroke of half-time, Minogue slotted a long-range penalty to extend the lead. 13–3.
Gordon were first to score in the second half, with quick hands putting Conor Hickey into the corner. 13–8. The Staggies struck again when Tevita Ahokovi snuck through the ruck to dot down. Kaye added the extras. 13–15. Gordon’s scrum proved too strong for Norths as Sam Babb dove over from close range. Kaye converted. 13–22.
Naughty boy Ben Holman was sent off for a tip tackle, reducing Gordon to 14 men. And before you could blink, Joshua Bragman joined Holman in the bin, leaving Gordon with 13 and just two minutes to play. Right on the bell, Josh Barr went over. 18–22.
Easts def Randwick 31-24
We got straight to it, two minutes in and Henry Palmer was over. 5–0. Moments later, Dave Vaihu bashed his way over. Cooper Whiteside added the extras. 12–0. Next to cross was Jonny Van der Velde and Beasties were flying. Whiteside added two more. 19–0.
Return of the Hendren. He dragged a couple with him to put Wicks on the board. 19–5. Half-time.
Easts were shifting the ball well and exploiting a soft Randwick defence. Dan Goggin increased their lead. Whiteside converted. 26–5.
Do not count out the Wicks. Some slick interchanges and Hendren bagged a double. Hendren converted. 26–12. Louis Robinson continued the comeback under the sticks. 26–17. A quick tap put Wicks on the move, eventually finding Joe Browning out wide. Hendren added the extras. 26–24.
The Beasties maul was too strong, and it was Gavin Archer who went over. 31–24.
Warringah def Manly 30-21
Manly got us underway with big Fred Kaihea going over from a maul. Ben Burnell added the extras. The Rats responded with three points through Coby Miln. 3 to 7. Ten minutes later, Miln added another three. 6 to 7.
A monstrous 50 to 22 from Yool Yool gave the Marlins a lineout. Then came something usually reserved for the Barbarians: a scrumptious trick peel play, and Dally Bird went in untouched. Burnell added two more. 6 to 14.
Harry Fry was sent off for a high shot just before half time. Naughty boy. The Rats went to the maul, drew in the defence, and Miln’s huge cut out pass found Ben Marr, who strolled in. Miln converted. 13 to 14.
With the clock in the red, the Rats had another maul and Zac Barnabas crossed the chalk. Miln converted. 20 to 14. Half time.
Warringah continued their maul dominance as Wes Thomas opened his account. Miln added two more. 27 to 14.
Manly hit back next with some crafty hands down the edge and Yool stepped his way in. Burnell converted. 27 to 21.
Manly gave it everything but could not convert. In a first for the season, Miln chanced a drop goal and slotted it to seal the game. 30 to 21.
Two Blues def Hunter 32-31
Two minutes in and Connor Winchester went over. Logan Love converted. 7 to 0. Parra responded with a cheeky blindside maul attack. Reece Suesue converted. 7 to 7. A quick tap from Logan Love was dished to big man Mesulame Kunavula and he barged over. Love converted. 14 to 7.
The Two Blues hit back with a lovely scrum set piece that found Cody Nordstrom in the corner. 14 to 12. Parra went back to back as Tovo Faleafa burrowed over right on half time. Suesue added the extras. 14 to 19.
Gee, this game was Goliath versus Goliath. I’m very glad I was not playing. Sitiveni Moceidreke edged the Two Blues further in front. Suesue added two more. 14 to 26.
You have always got to mark the first defender at the ruck, otherwise Love will snipe through, and that is exactly what he did. Love converted. 21 to 26.
With 15 to play, Philip Talaileva stepped and barged his way over to close the gap. 28 to 26. Suesue knocked over three points. 28 to 29.
With six minutes to go, Love took three from in front. Game on. 31 to 29.
Gee whizz. Just under two to play, a penalty shot from seven in from touch and up stepped Suesue. “Lolly legs,” someone screamed from the stands — and he nailed it.
Hunter regathered the kick-off, but a Parra turnover sealed the game. Why pay full price for a seat when you spend most of it on the edge?
James Kanehttps://https://ift.tt/l4b7eyC Shield round 12 Wrap: Comebacks, clutch kicks and closing minutes chaos
Post a Comment