NSW COUNTRY EAGLES TO MEET PERTH SPIRIT IN TAMWORTH BUILDCORP NRC GRAND FINAL

Oct 17 • General News, International • 1250 Views • Comments Off on NSW COUNTRY EAGLES TO MEET PERTH SPIRIT IN TAMWORTH BUILDCORP NRC GRAND FINAL

The NSW Country Eagles will host next week’s Buildcorp National Rugby Championship Final in Tamworth, after a dominant 50-24 semi-final win over Melbourne Rising in Newcastle yesterday. The Rising scored with their first opportunity with the ball when returned Wallaby ‘Super’ Sefanaia Naivalu blitzed the field from halfway to score under the posts. However with the crowd behind them, the Eagles gained momentum with Sam Figg, Reece Robinson and Jake Gordon all demonstrating their class to score two tries each.

Today at Pittwater Park the Perth Spirit steamrolled their way into their second Buildcorp NRC grand final appearance, after using their set piece and consistent breakdown pressure to overcome the spirited Sydney Rays. The home side captivated the vocal crowd with some brilliant tries, but when Perth’s replacement hooker Anaru Rangi scored off a well-executed lineout drive in the 76th minutes, the score blew out to an unassailable 42-24 to secure Perth the grand final berth.

ARU General Manager of High Performance, Ben Whitaker said: “This has been the most competitive season of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship, and both the NSW Country Eagles and Perth Spirit have been standouts throughout the 2016 tournament.

“An average of ten tries were scored per match during the regular season and we also witnessed some outstanding committed defensive displays, with defence being what separated the finalists.

“We’re looking forward to a great event in Tamworth at Scully Park next weekend for the 7.45pm final, and we know the passionate Country Eagles fans will be cheering as loudly as they can to help the Eagles bring home their first ever Buildcorp NRC title. Perth will be sure to put up a fight, so the match is bound to showcase some fantastic rugby.

“We’re also delighted that Nic Berry will referee the Tamworth final, which further highlights how the Buildcorp NRC gives enormous exposure and development opportunities to not only players but match officials and coaches too.”

NSW Country Eagles v Melbourne Rising, Concord Oval, Newcastle, 3.00pm, Saturday 15 October
NSW COUNTRY EAGLES 50 (Tries: S. Figg 2, R. Robinson 2, J. Gordon 2, R. O’Reegan; Cons: A. Deegan 3/6, T. Adams 1/1) def MELBOURNE RISING 24 (Tries: S. Naivalu, P. Leafa, J. Reid; Cons: J. Debreczeni 3/3)

Macquarie University Sydney Rays v Perth Spirit, Pittwater Park, Sydney, 3.00pm, Sunday 16 October
PERTH SPIRIT 42 (Tries: I. Prior 2, S. Masirewa, M. Brache, H. Tessmann, A. Rangi; Cons: I. Prior 3/6) def SYDNEY RAYS 24 (Tries: D. Fitzpatrick, H. Jones, R. Woolf; Cons: M. Lucas 2/2, A. Sinclair 1/1)

Grand Final: NSW Country Eagles v Perth Spirit, Scully Park, Tamworth, 7.45pm, Live on FOX SPORTS