The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies U19s ended their regular season with a bang after a strong 29-14 win over the Waratahs this afternoon, while the U16s side has wrapped up their competition with a 87-7 defeat in Sydney.
In the U16s clash the home side would get on the board first with an opening jab from Talen Risati landing in the fourth minute taking the Waratahs to an early 7-0 lead. Continuing to mount the pressure just four minutes later, the NSW side would cross again in the 8th minute as halfback Jeremy Rath scored under the sticks.
Unable to steady the ship, the Brumbies would concede points again in the 11th minute as the Waratahs would look right with a cut-out pass resulting in a try to Samuela Sorovi. Soon after in the 14th, number 10 Risati would pick up his second try after a desperate Brumbies scramble would fall just short. Converting his own try once again, he would take the score to 28-0 after 15 minutes of play.
In the 20th minute despite the Brumbies beginning to build pressure in the Waratahs end of the field, NSW would ruin the Brumbies efforts with an intercept try to Samuela Sorovi. Still looking to compose themselves, the Brumbies would concede another quick five-pointer in the 22nd minute as Kden Carter danced through ACT's defence before darting away for a long range try.
In the 28th minute the Brumbies effort would be dismantled once more as Sorovi would bag his third try of the match on the right wing, converted by Risati NSW's lead would extend to 49 points which would remain the half-time score.
To open the second half, a rolling maul would see the Waratahs crack the half century through Oliver Smith. Sorovi would later bag his fourth try as he found another intercept ni the 45th minute of the match, taking to score to 61-0. Extending their lead to 68-0 in the 50th minute, the Waratahs would snag another long range effort, this time through Saxon Gaw.
The 57th minute however would prove as the Brumbies first chance to strike as Charles Mcbaron crossed just to the right of the posts. Coming off the bench in the match, McBaron had been strong since the moment of inclusion and eventually breaking his sides try-scoring drought with a sly dart around the ruck for a try.
Any momentum the Brumbies were looking to gain would be cut short however as the Waratahs would cross again three more times to finish the match for a final score of 87-7.
NSW Waratahs U16s 87-7 (Tries: Talen Risati 2, Jeremy Rath, Samuela Sorovi 4, Kden Carter, Oliver Smith, Saxon Gaw, Jack Kalms 2, Nicholas Kotarac; Conversions: Talen Risati 7, Saxon Gaw 4) def. Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies 7 (Tries: Charles McBaron; Conversions: Tomas Jensen)
The U19s would start red-hot as they looked to dethrone the Waratahs at home, in just one minute of play the Brumbies would manage to nab a beautifully executed five pointer as number 10 Joe Dillon floated a pass over to winger Silas Pilot for the opening score on the right touchline.
Following their opening try, the Brumbies would then camp themselves on their own defensive line having to withstand an attacking onslaught by the Waratahs. After countless brave efforts from the ACT side they finally turned away the home side to escape their own 22. After a relentless 10 minutes, the Brumbies finally would have a scrum penalty to get the ball in hand once again.
In the 22nd minute the Waratahs would break the stalemate through number eight Eamon Doyle crashing over the line just one phase after a line break up the right sideline. Following a conversion by Sid Harvey, Waratahs would take a narrow 7-5 lead.
The two point lead would be a short lived advantage for the Waratahs however as the ACT boys would respond almost immediately, heading up the other end of the field and setting up a long-lasting rolling maul. The effort would prove a perfect setup for Lipina Ata to show his brute strength and barrel over the line leaving multiple blue jerseys in his wake.
In the 31st minute, Lachlan Smith would put his pure pace to work, darting upfield 40 metres and looking certain to score before a Waratahs Brendan Palmer would make the tackle but fail to release the ball and receive a yellow card for his troubles. Capitalising on the advantage, the Brumbies would score in the very next play through recently signed top-grader Shane Wilcox summing up a short side with a try of his own.
The visitors would continue to make the most of their one-man advantage with a second try to Wilcox in the 40th minute after slick hands in the mid-field sent the fullback away once again. Converted by Sam McLachlan the Brumbies would head into half-time with a 22-7 lead.
In the 47th minute the Waratahs would cross through winger Tom Klem in the right corner making the most of early possession from a scrum.
The 52nd minute is where the Brumbies tireless work would pay off once again, after pinning the Tahs' in their own end Bailey Buesnel would manage a charge down before recollecting the ball and strolling the remaining 15 metres to score. Converted again by McLachlan the ACT side would lead 29-14 after 53 minutes of play.
Buesnel's effort would prove the final blow in a 29-14 win in Sydney.
ACT Brumbies 29 (Tries: Silas Pilot, Lipina Ata, Shane Wilcox 2, Bailey Buesnel; Conversions: Sam McLachlan 2) def. NSW Waratahs 14 (Tries: Eamon Doyle, Tom Klem; Conversions: Sid Harvey 4)
