Australia U20s finish perfect warm up week

Sat, May 28, 2016, 8:55 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Mack Mason had a perfect night with the boot. Photo: Sportography
Mack Mason had a perfect night with the boot. Photo: Sportography

The Australia U20s will head to Manchester with plenty of confidence, after a dominant 61-0 win over NSW Country Cockatoos.

Ten tries and a perfect record off flyhalf Mack Mason's boot handed the U20s a dominant victory, in their final match before the U20s World Championships.

They had four before half-time, adding three more in the 20 minutes after the break, before ultimately breaking double digits in a comprehensive performance.

Australia put the pressure on early, holding most of the possession and field position and it was only a matter of time before that turned into points. 

U20s lock Ryan McCauley crossed for the first try of the match, starting from a lineout to give the youngsters the early lead, in a game where they laid on the pressure in set piece.

Winger Liam McNamara, a late call-up into the squad after an injury to Joey Fittock earlier in the week, finished off a brilliant attacking play to score his second U20s try in as many games.

Fullback Jack Maddocks was back to his best form, with some consistent kicking before slipping through the Cockatoos defence for the third try of the night, before a fourth to loosehead prop Faalelei Sione gave them a 28-0 half-time lead.

Winger Ah-mu Tuimalealiifano made it five, his first in a second-half double, off an attacking passage that began with halfback James Tuttle.

Liam Jurd had the sixth just a handful of minutes later as the game opened up for the U20s, with tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax adding one for the front row in the 59th minute.

Tuttle has had an interrupted season, but the Queensland scrumhalf proved a calming influence on the team in their final match before leaving for England.

Last-gasp tries to Rob Leota and Moses Sorovi sealed the win, but just as pleasing for the side was their defence, as they kept the Cockatoos scoreless.

Mason was slick with the boot, kicking seven from seven and his replacement Harry Nucifora added a conversion of his own.

The Australia U20s leave for England on Tuesday, facing England, Scotland and Italy in their pool.

AUSTRALIA U20s 61

( Tries: Tuimalealiifano 2, McCauley, McNamara, Maddocks, Sione, Jurd, Lomax, Leota, Sorovi Cons: Mason 7, Nucifora )

NSW COUNTRY 0

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