Game one: NSW I 31-24 Combined States

NSW I continued their unbeaten start to the Australian Schools Championships, scoring four first half tries in a 31-24 victory over Combined States.

The defending champions dominated for the opening 40 minutes, but took their foot off the pedal late in the match, allowing Combined States to cross for three second half tries.

NSW began brilliantly and dominated the early exchanges with winger Jackson Mohi crossing twice to give his side a 12-0 lead.

Eager to play attacking rugby, the home side continued to dominate and pushed further ahead when Nathan Lawson scored off a nice offload.

Combined States hit back through halfback Dylan Dowling who dummied and beat the defence, but NSW quickly responded, charging down the field and scoring through Tyrone Taukamo to take a 26-5 lead at half time.

That attack continued after the break allowing winger Yirribi Jaffer-Williams to score in the corner but from there Combined States took control as ill discipline and handling errors crept into NSW game.

The Barbarians style side, picked from unselected players from around the country, dominated their more fancied rivals for the majority of the final 20 minutes and scored three tries late in the match to add respectability to the 31-24 scoreline.

Unfortunately, Combined States left their run too late as NSW I held on for a less than convincing win for the second time this week.

Game two: QLD I 48-7 Western Australia

QLD I have bounced back from an opening round loss to claim a big win over Western Australia, despite a disappointing first half performance.

After losing to Victoria earlier this week, Queensland needed a victory to keep their finals hopes alive and looked to attack from the opening whistle, with Matt Collins crossing early to give his side a 5-0 lead.

With a big wind behind them, Western Australia dominated field position for the majority of the first stanza, forcing Queensland to defend their own line. Whilst the Queensland defence looked strong, WA finally broke through and scored out side to take a 7-5 lead to half time.

After a spray at the break, Queensland looked a different side as possession and territory turned in their favour. Winger Will Eadie crossed to put his side ahead before hooker Eugene Koorts scored after a number of phases to give Queensland a 15-7 lead.

An intercept led to a Willie Malala try soon after, before Eadie pounced on a loose ball and scored untouched under the posts to extend the lead to 22 points.

With momentum in Queensland’s favour Eadie finished off a brilliant team try to claim his hat-trick, before halfback Tate McDermott and prop Lloyd Gorman added five pointers of their own to seal a 48-7 victory to Queensland.

Game three: QLD II 22-10 ACT

QLD II have scored 22 unanswered points to claim their first win of the Australian Schools Championships, beating ACT 22-10.

After nearly upsetting NSW I on Monday, ACT again looked sharp early and scored the opening try through Siaosi Pulefale after a 40 metre linebreak from halfback Ryan Lonergan.

Classy ACT flyhalf Mac Hensen then stepped his way through the defensive line inside his own quarter and linked with Luke Gersekowski to score a long range try and give their side a 10-0 lead.

Queensland hit back through lock Harry Wilson who charged down a kick and ran 50 metres untouched to score against the run of play, as ACT went to the break leading 10-5.

Needing a win to keep their finals hopes alive, Queensland took the lead shortly after the break as Clayton Mack regathered a kick to score from a nice piece of counter attack.

Hooker Harrison Raven then barged over from close range to give Queensland a 17-10 lead, before Mack crossed for his second try off a lovely Matt McCarthy long ball to secure a 22-10 victory.

ACT attacked late, but Queensland’s defence held strong as they claimed their first win of the week.

Game four: NSW II 18-11 Victoria

NSW II have won their second match of the week, outlasting Victoria in tough conditions on a windy afternoon at Riverview.

Victoria were the form team of the opening day of competition and looked in similar form early. From an attacking scrum, No.8 Dyvontae Tippett broke through the defence and offloaded to his winger to give Victoria a 5-0 lead.

NSW II controlled possession and territory for the remainder of the first half, but the tough Victorian defence frustrated the home side and led to a handful of mistakes.

After being held up over the line, the NSW backs looked to attack from the ensuing scrum, passing right, before shifting the ball behind the scrum to the left side of the field, where fullback Matt McTaggart drew his defender and passed to winger Oliver Smealie to score a well worked try and take a 7-5 lead to the break.

Both sides exchanged penalty goals early in the second half before NSW centre James Armstrong blew the game open, scoring a brilliant individual try from a 22 metre restart to hand his side a 15-7 lead.

NSW extended their lead and sealed the result with a penalty goal to  William Harrison in the closing minutes.

Victoria however picked up a bonus point from the match after kicking a penalty goal after the full time siren to finish within seven points.