The 2016 Australian Schools Championships is set to be one of the most competitive in the tournament’s 42 year history after a number of surprising results on day one.

Victoria claimed a historic victory over QLD I earlier this morning, while NSW I scored in the final minute to sneak home against ACT. This afternoon, Combined States also upset QLD II setting up an interesting week of rugby at Riverview.

Game one: NSW II 57-24 Western Australia

NSW II began their campaign with a dominant 57-24 victory over Western Australia, outscoring the visitors eight tries to four.

NSW winger Luke Rixon was outstanding, scoring three tries and setting up another for fullback  Matthew McTaggert in a dominant first half performance to help his side secure a 36-7 half time lead.

Western Australia hit back with an intercept try after the break, but the NSW attack was too strong with McTaggert crossing twice more in the second half to also claim a hatrick.

Western Australia scored two late tries but the damage had been done in a strong first up performance by NSW II.

Game two: Victoria 42-16 QLD I

Victoria began their tournament with an impressive upset victory over QLD I.

After both sides exchanged penalty goals, the Victorian backline split open the Queensland defence as Hunter Paisami linked with Mila Lalotoa for the opening try.

Queensland bounced back with a converted try to winger Will Eadie, but the northerners had few answers for the physical Victorian forward pack, who crossed from a driving maul to take a 17-10 lead.

Both sides kicked penalty goals on either side of the half time break before Victoria blew the game open midway through the second half. Hooker Kalam Kent barged over to extend his side’s lead before fullback Nicholas Donghi and winger Danny Lee Rigby both scored individual tries to set up a 35-16 lead.

Victorian flyhalf Hinkley Halo Vaovasa then scored a converted try in the final play of the match to secure a confidence boosting 42-16 victory.

Game three: NSW I 33-27 ACT

ACT came within seconds of causing another huge upset on day one of the Australian Schools Championships and led NSW I until the final play of the match.

The visitors opened the scoring in the eighth minute when winger Caleb Malisauskas finished off a well worked backline play.

NSW hit back and levelled the scores through halfback Will Haskins and took a 12-7 lead soon after when winger Jackson Mohi scored after receiving a lovely long ball from flyhalf Adam Doueihi.

Attacking from a scrum inside NSW territory, the ACT backline found space with a well worked backline move and crossed through winger Nicholas Marshall, before kicking a penalty goal to take a 17-12 lead to the break.

Shortly after halftime NSW regained the lead after causing a turnover and spreading the ball to winger Yirribi Jaffer-Williams, who finished with style to score his first try of the tournament.

ACT dominated possession and territory for the majority of the second half but the NSW defence held strong, forcing the visitors to regain the lead with a penalty goal. After working their way straight back down into NSW territory, ACT finally crossed through hooker Lachlan Lonergan and led 27-19.

With 10 minutes remaining, NSW found themselves deep in ACT territory and capitalised through Jaffer-Williams who scored in the corner. Doueihi converted from near the sideline to bring the score to 27-26 and set up a grand stand finish.

NSW had all the ball in the final few minutes, but were unable to break the ACT defence as fatigue set in and both sides made several unforced errors.

With time all but up, NSW strung together a handful of phases and spread the ball to replacement back Luke Osborne, who stepped off his right foot twice to find space and score the match winning try under the posts.

Game four: Combined States 31-12 QLD II

Combined States added to Queensland’s misery on the opening day of the tournament, scoring four tries in a 31-12 victory over QLD II.

More to come…