Challenge Cup - Round 2 Wrap
Sunday, 11 March 2007 12:29am
by Rick Boyd
Central defeated East 29-12 and South downed North 29-24 in week two of the pre-season regional Challenge Cup series.
A strong Central team with plenty of strikepower and Western Force prop Pek Cowan, proved too strong in the first double header match at Rugby Park, Floreat, winning 29-12 over an East team with Western Force flanker Michael Dan. East dominated territory in the first half but struggled to contain Central's better attacking opportunities, conceding five tries, two in the first half and three in the second.
In the second game, South recovered from a 24-0 deficit at half time to post five consecutive tries in the second spell and complete the mother of all turnarounds. South, with Force lock Matt Windle, dominated territory and possession, particularly in the first half, but could not penetrate. North, featuring Force halfback Jon McGrath, lock Tom Hocking and hooker Luke Holmes, scored four tries largely against the run of play to set up what seemed a match-winning lead at half time. But the second spell was one way traffic as South, inspired by the awesome attacking skills of giant fullback Ratu Nasigiuyuni, kept scoring until they drew the game in the final ten minutes and then stole it just before full time.
In the early game, East opened strongly and trapped Central in its half, running multiple phases with the help of a number of penalties, until Central turned over and kicked clear. The kick went straight to East centre Hamilton Vaalepu, who ran up and passed to wing Quinton Tofua, who reached behind him to pluck the ball from the air and go over the line in the tackle. The ball was knocked back before Tofua could ground it but Vaalepu was on hand to make the touch down.
More opportunistic skills were on display at the other end of the ground minutes later. East fullback Alex Rufus leaned into touch to scoop a line kick back into play but the ball went loose and Central flanker Blair Morris toed ahead and won the race to the ball, but it bounced sideways. At full stretch on the ground, Morris reached across to apply downward pressure for the try to draw even at 5-5.
Central stayed on attack but errors and rushed options hampered their cause. Instead, flanker Matt O'Brien and inside centre Anton Wickens broke loose and raced down the pitch to put East back on the offensive.
It didn't last and Central attacked from half way, quick, wide ball finding East short of numbers. With just the fullback to beat and an unmarked runner outside him, wing Justin Webster stood up the defence with a dummy and cut back in to score beside the posts. Inside centre Mike Denton converted the sitter as Central went ahead 12-5.
Webster almost scored again a minute later in an identical move but the ball went to ground. Then number eight Will Brock charged over from a lineout right on half time but he lost the ball forward diving in to score.
A penalty lineout five minutes into the second half sent the ball wide and Joe Symes outflanked the defence for a try in the corner. Denton converted from the sideline as Central began to take control at 19-5.
Central went further ahead ten minutes later with a swarming attack up the sideline finished by Brock, swerving around the defence like a three-quarter for the try. Central went ahead 24-5.
Both sides had attacking opportunities as the half unfolded but the momentum of the match slowed down with substitutions. Brock got Central back on track stealing ruck ball five metres out from East's line and plunging over for the final try five minutes from time.
Tofua almost scored in the corner for East just before the whistle but he lost the ball in the tackle at the line. A penalty lineout followed and the East forwards barrelled over for the try. Number eight Jock Stanley landed a boomer conversion from the touchline for consolation points in the 29-12 loss.
In the second game, South started strongly but North drove downfield for Western Force lock Tom Hocking to force his way over the line to score. Fullback Matt Dreyer converted from the sideline and North went ahead 7-0 after 10 minutes.
South came back to dominate territory and hammer North's line but despite conceding a number of penalties, North stood firm. Then 20 minutes in, North broke wide after South spilled the ball and wing Charlie Norcross scooted down the touch line 70 metres to score out wide. The conversion missed but North was 12-0 up against the run of play.
Once again South returned to hammer North's line with scrums, lineouts and rucks but could not penetrate, and to add insult to injury, flyhalf James Stannard was despatched to the sin bin as South's frustration resulted in repeated team infringements.
Once again North staged a rare foray to the other end of the park as flyhalf Sam Parker chose his moments to unleash the all-Associates back line, and halfback Jon McGrath scored immediately, running blind from a scrum. The conversion failed but McGrath scored a second after a series of pick and drives from a tap penalty minutes later, and this time Dreyer slotted the easier kick. North moved ahead 24-0 having spent some six or seven minutes in the opposition's 22 going into half time.
North improved its share of territory in the second spell but this time it was Nasigiuyuni who broke wide and came around to swan dive in for the try behind the posts for South.
Minutes later Nasigiuyuni grabbed a lob pass coming into the back line and ran 30 metres before a flurry of spontaneous passes was finished by flanker Jerry Viriki for the try. Stannard converted and an amazing comeback was on the cards at 24-14.
North lifted for a short period of attack but South powered over them with pressure chasing and a tap penalty that almost saw centre Malo Lauti over for a try on the 20 minute mark, but the ball was held up.
South continued down the comeback trail five minutes later when Nasigiuyuni again came into the back line in a classic width of the field sweep and waltzed over effortlessly for the try. Stannard narrowly missed the sideline conversion but South came close at 24-19.
Nasigiuyuni was at it again minutes later, coming into the line and grubber kicking into the in goal where hooker Ryan Tyrell made the touch down in support.
At 24-24, the last ten minutes was set for an unlikely thriller finish. South threw everything into attack and went over in the corner but were called back for a forward pass. But North conceded a five yard scrum and halfback Bev Tuquiri burrowed over for the try two minutes before full time, completing off the mother of all comebacks with the 29-24 win.
