Australian Schools: Scrappy Barbarians rally to secure come-from-behind win over Samoa
Photo: Paul Seiser/SPA Images
Initially they fell into the trap of letting their Samoan counterparts dictate terms, but the Australian Schools Barbarians rallied to secure an eight-point, come-from-behind victory at Sydney’s Knox Grammar School on Wednesday night.
The visitors, well-prepared after a three lead-up games, shot to a 10-nil lead inside the first five minutes of the clash, which is the only international schoolboys fixture on Australian soil this year.
The Samoans’ first-up penalty goal was followed by a Tomasi Misifoa try, the barnstorming winger rolled over all but untouched from the resulting kick-off.
Eventually the Barbarians found their feet though, eliminating their scrappy errors and building on the back of their powerful set-piece play.
Their first try came from the back of a rolling maul in the 15th minute, although Samoa did extend their lead with a 37-metre drop goal not long after.
The Australians hit back again before the half-time break