Australia's next generation of Wallabies lit up Viking Park on Thursday afternoon as the race to Australia U18 and Australian Schools selection heats up.
Australia U18 Green, Australia U18 Gold and the Australian Schools went to war in a three-way battle with tries aplenty in the cool Canberra air.
Tearaway fullback Rex Bassingthwaite shone for the unbeaten Gold with a stunning 70m dash to touch down early in a 38-7 win over Schools while halfback Angus Grover, flyhalf Jonty Fowler, and hooker John Grenfell were among the standout performers.
Meanwhile bustling number eight Nate Gallagher impressed for Schools while Green's TJ Talaileva showed glimpses of his attacking prowess with a sparkling solo try to open the third game.
Results from a great afternoon of U18 Rugby Match 1: RA U18 Gold defeated Australian Schoolboys 38-7 Match 2: RA U18...
Posted by Australian Schools Rugby on Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Australia U18 Gold 38 def Australian Schools 7
It took just nine minutes for Gold to open their account in the opening game with halfback Grover touching twice off the back of an attacking scrum to dive over in the right corner.
Heinz Lemoto was next to cross with a brilliant solo try, pilfering a Schools ruck and storming 50m downfield under the sticks.
Bassingthwaite then showed a clean pair of heels in the 17th minute, haring after a clever Jonty Fowler kick into space and beating the covering Schools defence for Gold's third try.
With momentum on their side, Gold would score twice more through Heamasi Makasini and Lemoto before Schools finally struck a blow via Nate Thompson on the counterattack.
Bassingthwaite was denied a try late but Grenfell would have the last laugh for Gold, rolling over from a driving maul to make it six tries to one.
Australia U18 Gold 12 def Australia U18 Green 5
Gold picked up where they left off with an early try to Makasini down the left wing following sharp interplay from fellow winger Nick Conway and standout flanker Tom Robinson.
Fowler's sideline conversion saw Gold lead 7-0, however Green's fresh legs had their rivals backpedaling instantly as Charlie Poynton sped away to set up Tom Howard in the opposite corner.
Neither could wrangle ascendancy before oranges as handling errors plagued both sides before a smart blindside play in the 24th minute saw Gold halfback Tom Goldie dot down out wide.
A late rally from Green threatened to spoil Gold's unbeaten streak but it wasn't to be as a knock-on six metres out cruelled the comeback.
Australian Schools 12 def Australia U18 Green 7
The afternoon's fixtures ended in joy for Schools, who turned around their 31-point loss to earn a come-from-behind win over Green.
Green's Talailiva stunned the crowd with a solo try inside the opening minute but the points dried up from there as School clawed their way back into the contest.
First, a powerful scrum against the feed saw Nate Gallagher surge over the chalk before a lovely cutout ball gave Sunshine Coast product Blake Miller room to shimmy past two defenders and put Schools ahead in the 21st minute.
Schools would hang on late as Green pushed for an equaliser, eventually emerging five-point victors to lift spirits ahead of Saturday's clash with Fijian Schools in Sigatoka.
