A thrilling showdown between NSW and Queensland culminated in a contested finish as the Tahs secured a hard fought 11-point victory. The match opened in an frantic pace as the Waratahs under 19’s kick off and both side’s give away a penalty. A superb high box kick from Hwi Sharples found Liam Grover's hands, but he was brought to ground and lost the ball. However, it wasn't long before a scrum five meters out from the line allowed Sharples to send the ball out wide, finding Tom Klem for the first try of the game. Sid Harvey delivered a magnificent kick against the wind, nearly reaching a 50-22 as the Reds won the line but then kicked it astray. The Tahs capitalised on the opportunity with a swift counterattack, as Harvey passed the ball to Liam Grover. Grover powered past two defenders to score a try, which Harvey successfully converted. The Reds stayed competitive, scoring their first try just outside the first quarter with a well-executed rolling maul however missed the conversion. Just minutes later, a well-executed set play from the Tahs capitalized on several Reds players being left on the ground. The ball was swiftly pushed out to the wing, where Liam Grover passed to Brendan Palmer, who scored his first try of the game, following his hat trick in round 1. The Reds narrowed the point difference to just 5 as Finlay King scored his second try of the day, pushing over the line despite heavy defence from the Tahs. The extra two points are added with ease. Soon after, a costly penalty was awarded against the Tahs for foul play, allowing the Reds to push the ball to the backs and score another try. However, they missed the conversion, leveling the score at 17-all. The Tahs were determined to head into halftime with a lead, so from a quick lineout, Hwi Sharples made a pinpoint pass to Liam Grover for his second try. Harvey converted, putting the Tahs ahead by seven. The second half commenced with a fierce arm wrestle between the sides, featuring a series of collapsed scrums before a kicking duel began between the fullbacks. Harvey eventually found a gap, making crucial meters up the field. Kaleb Ahlcot came onto the field and made an immediate impact, driving through the middle and bolstering the scrums. He won a crucial penalty under the posts, allowing Harvey to secure an extra three crucial points pushing the lead out to 10 points. The three points proved crucial, as the Reds quickly answered with a converted try off the back of a maul, keeping spectators in suspense. The Waratahs wasted no time regaining their points, as Jacob Veiru and Eamon Doyle battled to secure the ball. Joey Fowler then delivered a perfectly weighted kick into the air, allowing Harvey to gather the ball off a perfect bounce and dive under the posts for a try. The Reds pounced back once again bringing it back to a three-point ball game as the Reds capitalised on a Tahs missed pass with Reds player Daniel Malum flying away for a try. A fantastic team try off the back of a rolling maul saw the ball swiftly thrown out to the side, finding Matteo Cleverly stepping around defenders for a superb finish to the play. After a series of phases, the Tahs, driven by their powerful forwards, attempted to barge over the line. However, they opted to take an extra three points to extend their lead with just minutes left on the clock. The Tahs concluded a successful match, returning to Sydney with their heads held high as they now turn their focus to preparing for round 4 next week.
Try Scorers:
Thomas Klem
Liam Grover x2
Brendan Palmer
Sid Harvey
Matteo Cleverley
Conversion: Sid Harvey 3/6 Penalty:
Sid Harvey x2
