2016 BUILDCORP NRC: ROUND 4 REVIEW

Sep 19 • General News, International • 1086 Views • Comments Off on 2016 BUILDCORP NRC: ROUND 4 REVIEW

Round 4 of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship saw Wallabies squad members pushing for selection in the upcoming Rugby Championship tour, as they played alongside the nation’s best up-and-coming stars also asserting their intentions for a Wallabies jersey.

The blockbuster City v Country top-of-the-table clash lived up to the hype, with the NSW Country Eagles storming home to a 36-16 bonus point victory over the Macquarie University Sydney Rays at Pittwater Park. Late Wallabies call-up Scott Fardy boosted the Rays, but was matched by NSW Country Eagles and Australian Sevens star Sam Figg who had a standout match for the victors.

Last year’s champions McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City fell to Melbourne Rising at Harlequin Oval where the boot of Jack Debreczini was instrumental in his team’s dominant 46-28 victory. City now face an uphill battle in their title defence, with a potential place in the finals sliding further away with every loss.

Amy Perret became the first female NRC referee at Viking Park, when she oversaw the UC Vikings v Western Sydney Rams match. In miserable conditions the Vikings edged out the Rams 22-16 to maintain the Horan-Little Shield and move to second in the ladder.

After the Wallabies win over Argentina in Perth the night before, the Spirit enjoyed a similar home ground advantage and were boosted with their own Wallabies – Ben McCalman and Luke Morahan – in an impressive 66-36 triumph over Bond University Queensland Country. Morahan showcased his Wallabies potential with three tries, while for Queensland Country Izaia Perese’s dangerous attacking was a highlight.

2016 Buildcorp NRC standings after Round 4:
NSW Country Eagles 18 points
Macquarie University Sydney Rays 14 points
UC Vikings 14 points
Perth Spirit 13 points
Melbourne Rising 10 points
McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City 4 points
Western Sydney Rams 3 points
Bond University Queensland Country 1 point

Macquarie University Sydney Rays v NSW Country Eagles, 1.00pm, Saturday 17 September, Pittwater Park, Sydney
NSW COUNTRY EAGLES 36 (Tries: R. Robinson 2, T. Latu, T. Cusack, J. Gordon; Cons: A. Deegan 2/3, T. Adams 1/2) def SYDNEY RAYS 16 (Tries: C. Vest, Penalty try; Cons: M. Lucas 2/2)

Melbourne Rising v McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City, 3.00pm, Saturday 17 September, Harlequin Oval, Melbourne
MELBOURNE RISING 46 (Tries: J. Debreczeni 2, I. Tupai, J. Reid, J. Placid, H. Fox; Cons: J. Debreczeni 1/2, B. Meehan 4/4) def BRISBANE CITY 28 (Tries: I. Naisarani 2, T. White, P. James; Cons: J. McIntyre 1/3, P. James 1/1)

UC Vikings v Western Sydney Rams, 1.00pm, Sunday 18 September, Viking Park, Canberra
UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA VIKINGS 22 (Tries: L. Taliauli, S. Taula, Co. McInerney; Cons: N. Jooste 2/3) def WESTERN SYDNEY RAMS 16 (Tries: A. Latunipulu, S. Toleafoa; Cons: P. Asquith 2/2)

Perth Spirit v Bond University Queensland Country, Viking Park, 3.00pm (1.00pm AWST), Sunday 18 September, Viking Park, Perth
PERTH SPIRIT 66 (Tries: L. Morahan 3, R. Haylett-Petty 2, S. Vui, R. Louwrens, M. Brache, A. Matuauto; Cons: J. Lance 6/9) def QUEENSLAND COUNTRY 36 (Tries: F. Kaitu’u, D. Paia’aua, J. Cornelsen, M. Mason, T. Banks; Cons: M. Third 1/1, M. Mason 2/4)

Round 5 Fixtures:
1.00pm, Saturday 24 September, NSW Country Eagles v Perth Spirit, Endeavour Oval, Orange, foxsports.com.au or FOX SPORTS NOW
3.00pm, Saturday 24 September Western Sydney Rams v Queensland Country, Concord Oval, Sydney, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 502
1.00pm, Sunday 25 September Canberra Vikings v Melbourne Rising, Viking Park, Canberra, foxsports.com.au or FOX SPORTS NOW
3.00pm, Sunday 25 September Brisbane City v Sydney Rays, Ballymore, Brisbane, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 502