Bond University Queensland Country claim upset win over NSW Country

Oct 3 • General News, International • 1073 Views • Comments Off on Bond University Queensland Country claim upset win over NSW Country

Bond University Queensland Country have secured their first win of the 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship season, claiming a 40-38 victory over ladder-leading NSW Country at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.

Queensland Country outscored their Southern rivals six tries to five, with inside centre Duncan Paia’aua bagging a double to be named the Green and Gold Rugby Man of the Match.

Head coach Toutai Kefu said the win was a good reward for the efforts of the playing group.

“The team have been playing some good Rugby throughout the season but haven’t been able to close out a number of close games,” Kefu said.

“It’s good to see the players realise their potential and finish today’s game ahead on the scoreboard. It’s reward for the effort they’ve been putting in on and off the field.”

Angus Scott-Young scored the first try of the match just two minutes into the game, off the back of an Alex Casey break. Mack Mason missed the conversion to leave the score at 6-nil.

NSW Country scored back-to-back tries through Tom Hill and Christian Kagiassis before the 15 minute mark to take a 14-6 lead.

A converted try to Ted Postal levelled the score, before Alex Casey scored a try of his own in the 36^thminute, which Mason converted, to put the home-side ahead 20-14 as the two teams headed into the sheds.

Paia’aua opened up the scoring in the second stanza, scoring his double in the opening 10 minutes of play, to put Queensland Country ahead 34-14.

Brad Thorn left the pitch in the 50^th minute to a standing ovation from the Toowoomba crowd.

Reserve hooker Luke Holmes started NSW Country’s comeback run, with a try in the 53^rd minute, which Andrew Deegan converted to narrow the score line to 34-22.

Kyle Godwin scored a runaway try in the 60^th minute and another successful conversion from Deegan further closed the gap to 34-30.

A barge-over try from Sef Fa’agase put Queensland Country ahead by 10-points, 40-30, before Hill crossed for his second try of the game for NSW Country to narrow the margin to two-points, 40-38, with minutes left on the clock.

Possession changed hands a number of times in the dying minutes, before Queensland Country forced a scrum penalty against the feed 15 metres from their own line to secure the win.

Queensland Country captain James Tuttle said: “It’s great to finally get the win. The team have been working hard and today’s result has felt like a long time coming.

“The crowd here in Toowoomba was excellent and helped us get across the line. There was a lot of local support out there for the team, especially the Darling Downs representatives in the squad.

“It’s really important for Queensland Country to get out to regional centres and engage with the country Rugby community and it was great to see so many local juniors at today’s game.”

Queensland Country will face Brisbane City in the final round of the 2016 NRC season next Sunday at Ballymore, where the two sides will compete for the Andy Purcell Cup.

Queensland Country 40 (D. Paia’aua 2, A. Scott-Young, T. Postal, A. Casey, R. Asiata tries; M. Mason 2 conv) defeated NSW Country 38 (T. Hill 2, C. Kagiassis, L. Holmes, K. Godwin tries; A. Deegan 4 conv)