McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City lose to Melbourne Rising

Sep 19 • General News, International • 1118 Views • Comments Off on McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City lose to Melbourne Rising

A second half fight back wasn’t enough for McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City, as they fell 46-28 to the Melbourne Rising in Round 4 of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.

The Rising out scored City six tries to four, but it was the home side’s 30-point first half off the back of Brisbane’s mistakes which set up the win.

City’s tries were scored by Isi Naisarani (2), Toby White and Pat James. The Rising’s tries were scored by Ikapote Tupai, Jordy Reid, Jack Debreczeni (2), Jonah Placid and Harley Fox.

City head coach Rod Seib said: “We played some good Rugby in the second half, but unfortunately we just gave them too much of a head start off the back of mistakes, penalties and poor execution.

“In this game, possession equals points and when you’re making those mistakes, you pay.

“When we did have possession and were able to create pressure, we scored some good tries and we definitely felt like we were still in it late in the game.”

The Rising made the most of a strong tail wind in the first half, with the convincing boot of fullback Debreczeni pinning City in their own half and laying the platform for a slew of tries to the home side.

Frustratingly for City, it was their own mistakes which contributed to the Rising’s first half lead, with turnovers twice gifting them prime attacking opportunities.

The Rising scored three unanswered tries to Tupai, Reid and Debreczeni to take a 22-0 lead just 19 minutes into the first half, before City finally stemmed the flow.

The visitors hit back with their first try in the 29^th minute, when Naisarani took advantage of a solid five-metre scrum to charge over easily and close the gap to 22-8.

The team traded tries in the final 10 minutes of the half, with Naisarani bagging his second off the back of a 20-metre run, to take the half time score to 30-14 to the home side.

City drew first blood in the second half with a sensational end-to-end try, sparked by an impressive 30-metre run to lock Lukhan Tui. The 19-year-old’s rampaging run set up City’s raid and although they turned the ball over, the Rising’s clearing kick found the hands of City captain Sam Talakai who shifted it to White to score. City trailed 30-20 with 57 minutes gone.

The visitors appeared to be gaining the ascendancy late in the game, with the Rising tiring, but a short-range try to back row Fox put the result beyond doubt. Meehan’s conversion extended the Rising lead to 38-20.

City scored a late consolation try to James to close the gap, but Debreczeni had the last say in the match, scoring his second try after the 80^th minute.

City return to Ballymore Stadium next weekend to host the Sydney Rays on Sunday 25 September at 3:00pm. Tickets are available at www.redsrugby.com.au.

McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City 28 (Isi Naisarani 2, Toby White, Pat James tries; Jake McIntyre 1, James 1 conversions) defeated by Melbourne Rising 46 (Ikapote Tupai, Jordy Reid, Jack Debreczeni 2, Jonah Placid, Harley Fox tries; Debreczeni 1, Ben Meehan 4 conversions) at Harlequins RC, Melbourne on Saturday 17 September 2016.