The Queensland Reds Under-19s fired a five-try shot at their oldest foes today yet came up short 42-31 in a humming spectacle against the NSW Waratahs.
The Waratahs U19s ran out deserving winners in blustery conditions at Brisbane’s Hugh Courtney Oval by scoring six tries of their own to entertain an enthusiastic crowd.
The fight within the young Reds cannot be questioned in the Super Rugby Men's U19s because four times they struck back with tries after the Waratahs crossed themselves.
The crowd enjoyed the running rugby as well as the mauling strength of the Reds which contributed to the opening two tries from hooker Finlay King which hauled back a 12-0 deficit.
The Reds locked the scores at 17-all just before half-time when the Souths backline trio of Maddox Maclean, Darcy Rowan and Xavier Rubens combined.
Flyhalf Maclean took the quick tap, the headgeared Rowan made a neat break and then expertly dished off a one-handed offload so his centre partner Rubens could score.
Parity lasted only three minutes before the Reds were playing catch-up again for the rest of the match.
The Reds will rue the little things they need to improve on because a slow start, lineout miscues in the wind, inaccurate kicking and handling errors stalled momentum.
Even one forward roared in full voice early in the second half “we’re shooting ourselves in the foot.”
When the likes of Trevor King, fellow prop Byron Murphy, flanker Charlie Brosnan and No.8 Vaiuta Latu were carrying the ball strongly in succession, the Reds looked at their best because space opened up naturally out wide.
Winger Daniel Malum had only a few chances but was eye-catching each time. He made a sharp angled run in-field off a Dre-Dyn Laban long ball in the first half. In the second half, he swooped on a loose pass from the Waratahs and dashed over from 35m out.
That try closed the gap to 34-31 but the Waratahs had the final say.
Such was his classy kicking, red-haired Waratahs fullback Sid Harvey might already have rugby’s best left boot out of Narrabri since the great Chris Latham.
Reds halfback James Martens was always a threat with the ball. He made several sniping runs and his fast first step led to offloads to keep play rolling at other times.
“It was definitely a disappointing result. Our maul was strong and we dominated in patches in the forwards but not for long enough,” Reds captain Rubens said.
“Their strong kicking game put us on the back foot too.
“We want another crack at them but our focus has to be sharp on next weekend first. We’re travelling to Perth and we know the Western Force will be out to get us.”
The Reds must beat the Force next Sunday and the Melbourne Rebels in Brisbane on October 26 to guarantee another shot at the Waratahs in the November 3 final at Ballymore.
The Reds U16s came out strongly to lead 8-0 in the early game but were swamped 50-20 by the Waratahs.
The intensity was there from the kick-off when No.8 Lote-Felo made a big 15m ball carry into the heart of the Waratahs defence.
Prop Harrison Asi's pick-and-go try after a strong rolling maul made it 8-0 and there was also the first of winger Hemi Rakuita's direct, pacy runs.
The Reds finished the first half with only 14 men because of a yellow card but, even undermanned, they scored a pick-and-go try through Lote-Felo. It was still game on at the break when 19-13 in arrears.
The teams traded tries to open the second half with Rakuita dashing over and replacement flyhalf Angus Underwood slotting an angled conversion for 26-20.
The final period was one-way traffic as the Waratahs' superior speed of recycling, pacy backline and sharp attacks off kick returns took control.
"Now we know the standard we have to reach," Reds coach Welmar Du Plessis said.
"When we took them on physically we got some good results. We paid for some poor exits and our discipline fell away.
"It's important we focus on the Force next weekend because that away trip will be tough."
Centre Tione Taka, hardworking flanker Lincoln Dalton, hooker Adrian de Klerk and winger Rakuita all had impressive moments.
NSW U19s 42
Tries: Liam Grover 2, Thomas Klem, Brendan Palmer , Sid Harvey , Matteo Cleverley
Conversions: Sid Harvey 3
Penalty Goals: Sid Harvey 2
Def
QUEENSLAND REDS U19S 31
Tries: Finlay King 2, Xavier Rubens, Daniel Malum, James Martens
Conversions: Maddox Maclean 3
NSW U16s 50
Tries: Jarryd King 2, Darcy Feltham 2, Flynn Farrell , Keone Anitelea-Tsioussis , Justice Taumoepeau, Selestino Mainakavika
Conversions: Talen Risati 5
Def
QUEENSLAND REDS U16s 20
Tries: Harrison Asi, Agapetos Lote-Felo, Hemi Rakuita
Conversion: Oliver Kennedy
Penalty Goal: Oliver Kennedy
