WATCH: NRC wrap - Full replays and highlights of Round 3 as Force, Eagles remain unbeaten

Western Force have maintained their spot at the head of the NRC ladder after beating Melbourne Rising 38-19 in Perth to take a four-point lead after Round 3 of competition.

The Force notched a comprehensive win in a six tries to three showing to leave the Rising at the foot of the table, without a competition point.

NSW Country Eagles also remain undefeated after their last-gasp draw with defending champions Fijian Drua in Wollongong on Saturday.

Thrilling finishes and upsets were the norm on Saturday as Sydney and the Canberra Vikings added their names to the winners' list.

Catch the replays and highlights of the weekend's action below.  

WESTERN FORCE VS MELBOURNE RISING

HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Western Force have extended their unbeaten run to three with a 38-19 victory over the Rising to leave the winless Melbourne based outfit anchored at the bottom of the NRC ladder.

After last week’s away victory in Fiji, the Force returned home full of confidence and were largely untroubled in overcoming an error-ridden Rising to jump four points clear at the top of the NRC competition table.

Under clear skies at the University of WA, the locals got the better of the much bigger and more fancied Rebels-dominated forward pack and by halftime had jumped clear 19-7.

Elusive winger Byron Ralston proved untouchable, racing in three tries for the Force inside the opening half hour to help his side home.

FULL REPLAY

 

RESULT

Western Force 38

Tries: Ralston 3, Stander, Ready, Bardoul

Cons: Prior 4

Melbourne Rising 19

Tries: Iona, Hardwick, Fa'amausili

Cons: So'oialo 2

NSW COUNTRY VS FIJIAN DRUA

HIGHLIGHTS

 

NSW Country have forced a dramatic draw with an 81st minute try to keep defending NRC champions Fiji winless after three rounds of competition.

The Drua, who drew with Brisbane City in the opening round before being beaten by the Western Force in Suva last week, looked to have finally opened their account when they led by a converted try in the dying stages of the match.

But having pushed their advantage out to seven points with a successful conversion attempt in the 69th minute, the Drua missed another that would have made them all but unbeatable and the Eagles threw everything at them.

Repeated pick and drive raids paid off when replacement Jack Grant barged over and Connor O'Shea converted from 15m in from the right touch line to maintain the Eagles' unbeaten start to the competition..

FULL REPLAY

 

RESULT

NSW Country 24

Tries: Horton, Gordon, Nawaqanitawase, Grant

Cons: Kane, O'Shea

Fijian Drua 24

Tries: Matawalu, Radaniva, Tabulawaki

Cons: Malele 3

Pens: Vularika

CANBERRA VIKINGS VS BRISBANE CITY

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Canberra have bounced back to the NRC winners' circle with a nail-biting one-point win over Brisbane City after nerveless halfback Ryan Lonergan potted a long-range penalty to seal a 36-35 victory.

The Vikings were a different side to the one that capitulated to Queensland Country in the second half last week, holding out repeated attacking raids from the visitors to maintain a lead into the final quarter of the match.

But Brisbane hit the lead inside the final 10 minutes after a pair of converted tries and seemed set to snatch a late victory until Lonergan stepped up.

FULL REPLAY

 

RESULT

Canberra Vikings 36

Tries: Ross, Gersekowski, Muirhead, Pulu, Wright

Cons: Ryan Lonergan 4

Pens: Lonergan

Yellow card: Gersekowski 27', Abra 65'

Brisbane City 35

Tries: Paenga-Amosa 2, Penalty try, Tela, Tualima

Cons: Lucas 4

SYDNEY VS QUEENSLAND COUNTRY

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Sydney have put their NRC season back on track with a 47-26 win over Queensland Country in a massive upset at Woollahra Oval.

Country were among the competition favourites this season and while they lost their opening match by just a point in a high-scoring clash against the Force in Perth, they underlined their status with a strong win against Canberra on the Gold Coast last week.

But Sydney were desperate after two losses on the trot and bolstered by the return of their Randwick players - who missed last week's game after being involved in the pre-World Cup match against Argentina - they ignored the form guide.

FULL REPLAY

 

RESULT

Sydney 47

Tries: Gamble, Clark 2, Foketi 2, Burey, Graham

Cons: Harrison 6

Queensland Country 26

Tries: McDermott, Saifoloi, Fittock, Lucas

Cons: Saifoloi 3