The NSW Under 20s have defeated Tonga 64-17 in a trial match at the National Australian Under 20s Championship.
NSW’s next match will be against the Australian Barbarians on Monday 23 March at Viking Park.
NSW Under 20s Head Coach Tim Rapp was happy with his side’s victory.
“We’re really happy to score 64 points through playing our style of footy, get across the lines and throw the ball around.
“We stuck to our structure which is something we really liked which can happen in these sorts of games but they were really accurate with what they did.
“It’s been six months of a lot of training but there is nothing like playing a national team at a National Championship and we’ve got that one under our belt now.”
THE MATCH
NSW started the match strongly crossing early for a try though centre Jack Redden who crossed the line in the corner with flyhalf Andrew Deegan making the sideline conversion look easy to take the score to 7-0.
NSW continued to attack Tonga who struggled to gain possession of the ball with a great break by winger Harry Jones eventually allowing Henry Hutchinson to score.
Andrew Deegan converted the try to give NSW a 14-0 lead.
NSW began to show their dominance over Tonga with a third try moments later as Nick Kellaway crossed after powering through Tonfa’s forwards.
Deegan converted the try to take the score to 21-0.
Tonga began to work their way into the match through some hit ups by the forwards eventually allowing number eight Sione Vailawu to score after a dramatic intercept near NSW’s line.
Tonga converted the try to take the score to 21-7.
The young NSW side bounced back immediately with a tries through Alex Newsome and Mitch Short to take NSW’s lead to 33-7 where the score would remain at half time.
In the second stanza Tonga shot out of the blocks scoring two quick tries as NSW’s defence was caught off guard taking the score to 33-17.
The NSW backline ran rampant as they worked back into the game as the classy NSW backs took the score to above 50.
Tonga’s defence faded further as the side continued to defend against NSW with NSW emerging eventual winners 64-17.
NSW’s next match is against the Australian Barbarians on Monday 23 March at 1pm at Viking Park, Canberra.
