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.
Three unanswered tries in the back half of the opening term gave the home side a lead at the break but when Country scored through Joey Fittock just two minutes into the second period, the favourites looked as though they would storm back into the game.
Sydney had other ideas though. More enthusiastic and disciplined than their opposition, they dominated all facets of the game, out-pointing a Queensland side containing several Reds players at the set piece and swamping their rivals in defence with great line speed and strong hits.
Junior Wallabies flyhalf Will Harrison was a welcome return, his game control and accuracy with the boot a boon, while midfielders Harry Burey and captain Lalakai Foketi had a field day, both scoring a pair, with Burey in everything.
The result gives Sydney's campaign a jump start, while Country have now registered a second loss from three games after their one-point loss to the Western Force in the opening round.
Sydney opened the scoring off the back of an error from Country, who handed possession to their rivals in strong field position after Filipo Daugunu misjudged the wind and put the ball out on the full.
Burey broke the line from the resulting lineout and found the trailing Charlie Gamble, who was able to race over for the opening try.
Country took a while to find their rhythm but when they did they were able to dictate terms for the next 20 minutes.
Halfback Tate McDermott dived over for Country's first try, capitalising on multiple phases of play as his forwards found their range.
Flyhalf Rohan Saifoloi scored Country's second, finishing off work started by Harry Wilson, with McDermott finding his halves partner to finish off the move.
With a pack laden with Queensland Reds players, Country was expected to dominate the scrum but Sydney's second try was generated from a turnover after their pack put on a big push.
Sydney read the numbers well to find Cam Clark on his own on his wing, with Will Harrison banging over the sideline conversion attempt to lock up the scores.
And the home side was in again just two minutes later, with Foketi racing over after strong lead-up work from forwards Gamble and Ryan McCauley.
Clark was in for his second just minutes later after McCauley found him with a neat cutout, with Harrison's conversion giving Sydney a 28-14 halftime lead.
Country turned the tables in the second term, with a break from Saifoloi leading to the opening try from Joey Fittock, who neatly stepped back infield and beat two defenders to cross, with Saifoloi's conversion clawing the margin back to seven points.
But a horror error in their own in-goal from Country led to a gift for Sydney, with Burey planting his hand on a ball that McDermott lost behind his own line attempting to get out of trouble to score the easiest try of his career.
Country continued to be their own worst enemies, failing to treasure the pill and giving away cheap penalties, with Sydney extending their lead when fullback Jaline Graham crossed.
Foketi put the icing on the cake when he soared to pluck a neat cross-kick from Harrison out of the sky to score his second of the day.
Tom Lucas scored a consolation try in the 74th minute, the utility backing up Filipo Daugunu who beat defenders and made space down the flank when he finally found himself in space.
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
