Out-Gunned: Young City flanker Michael Gunn goes over for the first of his two tries
Photo: karenwatson.com.au

by Paul Cook –

The North Harbour Rays can thank the Greater Sydney Rams for this result. Stunned by their 27pt beating at the hands of the Rams last Friday, Brisbane returned to the harbour city last night with their game faces on, and boy did it show. A fast start grew into a 32-8 lead by half-time and from there, a rampant City got the Rays firmly between their teeth and shook them for all they were worth to rack up a total of ten tries in a 77-26 demolition.

City’s backrow did most of the damage, a brace from openside Michael Gunn and singles for partners in crime, Adam Korcsyk and Curtis Browning, complimented a vastly improved effort at the breakdown, while Quade Cooper enjoyed his second start in just over four months, having a hand in over half the tries and slotting nine conversions for a 27pt personal haul.

The win restores City to second place on the ladder ahead of a Bledisloe Cup curtain raiser against the Canberra Vikings next Saturday at Suncorp Stadium. On this form, you wouldn’t back against them hosting a home semi-final a week later. For the Rays however, it’s the end of the road. Even a win in their final match next weekend won’t be enough for them to sneak into the top four.

No doubt stung by the paucity of their effort six days ago, City raised the bar from the opening whistle, putting together a sustained period of tidy phase play that stretched and teased the Rays defence for exactly one minute and fifty seconds before Cooper put fullback Matt Feaunati over off a short ball.

A dominant opening quarter ended with City having racked up 81% of territory inside their opponent’s half, all that was missing was more of an end product. But just as the Rays settled and began to look a threat on the counter, particularly off the back of a tireless shift from the ever impressive Sam Ward, it was the visitors who went in again on 25 minutes.

In Form: Rays no.8 Sam Ward has certainly used the NRC to stake his claim for higher honours with a succession of impressive displays – Photo: karenwatson.com.au

A quick tap from Nick Frisby found the Rays defence napping and a neat inside ball to Michael Gunn gave the openside a chance to show his fleet of foot, producing two sidesteps that would make a winger proud before going under the posts.

That elusive second try seemed to free City’s spirits even more and from their next attack, Gunn, clearly revelling in the occasion, almost strode through again. The 19-year-old broke the line in style but contact on the way through knocked his balance just enough to see him eventually stumble to the ground on the Rays’ 22 with the home side’s line begging.

No matter, anything Gunn could do, his partners in the backrow could match and it was blindside flanker Adam Korcsyk who proved too hot to handle near the line just before the half hour to give City their third.

Cooper himself almost got on the scoresheet straight after, chasing down a kick in behind before the vagaries of a bouncing ball took it over the goal line as he was waiting to pounce. But a second try for Gunn on 32 minutes, charging down an ill advised box kick from Josh Holmes 5 metres from his goal line, rubber stamped the visitors’ dominance.

The home crowd were finally given some cheer when Sam Ward, arguably the Rays best in the opening stanza, was on hand to give his side a lifeline. Winger Harry Jones made the initial line break, ghosting down the right flank, but when the ball came infield, Scott Daruda failed to notice the bank of Rays jerseys arrayed to his left. However, flanker Jack Dempsey pitched in to help out, recycling wide for Ward to burst through a soft tackle from Toby White and cross for his fourth try of the campaign.

The Rays thought they had another in the shadows of half-time. Buoyed by their opening five pointer, they started to find some space around the fringes and with Josh Holmes probing and the promising Jones continuing to be a threat with ball in hand, they worked the ball to a sprinting Feltscheer who somehow wriggled his way through two to spin and stretch out for the line in one motion but he couldn’t apply the sufficient pressure that would have sent his team to the sheds with even greater belief that they were still in the contest.

City should have added to their score in the opening minute after the restart. Working the short side, they concocted a three-on-one that was just a matter of catch and pass but Harry Parker misread the script and the chance went begging, much to the annoyance of coach Stiles.

He needn’t have fretted. From their next attacking platform, a 15 metre scrum, they did strike again, and the ease with which they were allowed to create and execute should be cause for concern for the Rays coaching staff.

The forwards trucked it up, Frisby and Cooper lay in wait, calling the shots as Rays defenders were sucked in towards the action, and when the ball went inevitably wide, it was Cooper who applied the coup de grace, his body position giving every indication of the expected outside ball while his hands reversed the pill into the path of Samu Kerevi. You don’t stop the City no.12 from there.

City winger Chris Kuridrani on the charge – Photo: karenwatson.com.au

An unlikely comeback from the Rays was all but diminished on 54 minutes, City showing their strength up front once again when hooker Andrew Ready powered over after good work from skipper Dave McDuling off a 5 metre lineout.

But the home side showed some ticker, hitting back with their own powerplay a couple of minutes later, captain Greg Peterson leading by example to bring the margin back to 29pts. However, ‘back to 29pts’ isn’t exactly a positive phrase with 24 minutes left on the clock.

A yellow card for City replacement Chas Mahina in the 65th minute gave the Rays a chance to use their major weapon, the driving maul, to good effect once again. They had already gone mightily close a couple of minutes earlier but with the man advantage, there was no stopping them second time around, Harry Bergelin doing what he does better than most to dive over from a metre.

As bodies tired and hearts faded, the game opened up completely as it entered the final quarter, another four tries in five hectic minutes leaving the crowd on the edge of their seat and those in the press box needing ice for their overworked fingers.

City got the ball rolling, replacement Jack Mullins going in off a terrific pass from Frisby before the industrious Mali Hingano got a fourth for the Rays after a quick tap and sweeping cut-out pass from Josh Holmes.

City responded immediately through Curtis Browning from in close before the front row got in on the razzle dazzle, Pettowa Paraka taking out three defenders with an inch perfect pass into the hands of fellow prop Phil Kite and the big unit finished in style with a run around to the posts.

There was still time for one more in the dying throes of the match, Josh Holmes caught out when chancing his arm with a pop up pass off the floor that fell straight into the hands of Harry Parker. The young winger fed his centre, Toby White, away to the chalk to put the seal on this most emphatic of victories.

Brisbane City 77 (Michael Gunn 2, Matt Feaunati, Adam Korcsyk, Samu Kerevi, Andrew Ready, Jack Mullins, Curtis Browning, Phil Kite, Toby White tries: Quade Cooper 9 cons) defeated North Harbour Rays 26 (Sam Ward, Greg Peterson, Harry Bergelin, Mali Hingano tries; Harry Jones, Hamish Angus cons)