Firepower: Joe Kamana is one of several strike players Rising have in their ranks
Photo: Cam Inniss Photography

Melbourne Rising Media Release –

The Melbourne Rising has made it two from two at AAMI Park, and four from four in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) with a 44-24 win over the Perth Spirit.

It was a penetrating battle between the two sides, with the score line not reflective of the tight encounter which ensued.

Both sides started off with intensity, with the Spirit making the most of the frantic game style, forcing a number of Rising mistakes and pressuring the home side’s line. The Spirit earned reward for effort on the fourteen-minute mark with a try to number eight Alex Rovira off the back of the scrum.

Despite the strong start from the Spirit, the Rising worked the game back onto their own terms, mimicking the Spirit’s attacking pressure to level the scores at 8-8 with a try to Lopeti Timani.

Once on the board it took only minutes for the Rising to snatch the lead with a breaking run from Jonah Placid setting up a try for Telusa Veainu who was waiting patiently on the wing. And as the Rising’s forward pack switched on, Joe Kamana was next to score with a desperate run to chase down a Jack Debreczeni grubber.

Sean McMahon looked to have broken and crossed over, however the TMO ruled it was lost forward and called half time with the scores at 18-8.

The second half started just as the first did, with a frenetic pace causing a number of mistakes from both sides. The Spirit again made the most of their opportunities, with Brad Lacey making a spectacular break for his first try of the night. Another successful conversion from Luke Burton brought the Spirit to within two points.

Double Trouble: A brace for Telusa Veainu lifted him alongside Andrew Kelaaway as the leading try scorer in the NRC – Photo: Cam Inniss Photography

The Rising again appeared to be taking their time to settle into the half; however a courageous charge down from Luke Jones gave the home side possession, with the forward pack working hard to make territory.

After three penalties against the visitors in a row, Timani scored his second try of the night as the Rising scrum pushed over the Spirit’s line. With the gates now ajar, the Rising pushed through again, this time through Cadeyrn Neville who split open the defence for the Rising’s fifth of the night.

Kamana and Veainu looked to be a winning combination on the wings, with elusive speed and sharp footwork allowing the duo to combine for Veainu’s second try of the night on the 65-minute mark.

Despite being a man down with Pom Simona in the sin bin, the Rising’s defence stood strong, with Lloyd Johansson forcing a turn over only metres from his own line.

The Rising worked their way back into attack, pushing hard to extend the lead with their seventh of the night to replacement scrumhalf Luke Burgess.

The Spirit refused to head back west without the final say, showing the same intensity which earned the visitors their first two tries. Flyhalf Zac Holmes touched down mere seconds before the buzzer, with a conversion off the back of his own try settling the score at 44-24.

Melbourne Rising Head Coach Sean Hedger was pleased to have secured a fourth bonus point win, but warned that his side still have plenty of work to do in the coming weeks.

“We are pleased because we got the win, but there are always things that we can improve upon,” Hedger said. “We started a lot slower than we have in other games, and that is something that we need to address.

“I admire our guys adventure at backing themselves with ball in hand, however we need to get the balance better for when it is smarter to kick for position. We can still improve in some areas, so that’s good to know as well.

Hedger also paid tribute to the Perth Spirit for the way in which they controlled aspects of the match.

“Perth were very good around the breakdown, slowing down our ball and recycle, and that led to us having a very stunted attack. They should be congratulated for how they played the game, with excellent field position and a wonderful kicking game.”

Melbourne Rising 44 Tries Lopeti Timani (2), Telusa Veaini (2), Cadeyrn Neville, Luke Burgess, Joe Kamana Conversions Jack Debreczeni (2), Telusa Veainu Penalties nil

Perth Spirit 24 Tries Alex Rovira, Zack Holmes, Brad Lacey Conversions Zack Holmes (2), Luke Burton Penalties nil