UPDATE: Brisbane City have reclaimed their title as national U19s Champions following a convincing 43-19 win over Sydney in today’s Final in Canberra.
The Queenslanders scored six tries to Sydney’s three with both Emmitt Keepa and Matthew Weir crossing the line twice for the competition’s undefeated champions.
Sydney scored first to take a 7-0 lead but a pair of tries to lock Keepa handed them a 17-7 lead at the break and they pushed the margin out to 35 points in the second half before conceding two late tries to Sydney.
Winger Samuel Samu was named player of the tournament.
The result, coupled with Queensland Country's 33-31 win over the NSW Country Eagles in the bronze-medal match continued Queensland's dominance at under-age events.
In other matches, the Brumbies U19s overpowered the Barbarians 45-10 in a convincing win in the fifth-place playoff, while RugbyWA claimed their first win of the 2019 competition, defeating the Melbourne Rebels U19s 47-24.
U19 Rugby Championship Results:
7th Place Playoff - Melbourne Rebels U19s 24 defeated by RugbyWA 47
5th Place Playoff – Brumbies Rugby U19s 45 defeated the Barbarians 10
Bronze Medal Final – NSW Country URC 26 defeated by Queensland Country URC 31
Gold Medal Final – Sydney URC 19 defeated by Brisbane City URC 43
EARLIER: Brisbane City will attempt to keep their unbeaten finals record in the U19 national championship alive when they take on Sydney at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra this afternoon.
Defending champions City secured their place in the final with a 36-29 win over Rugby WA on Wednesday, while Sydney beat the Melbourne Rebels 36-7, adding to previous wins over NSW Country and the Brumbies.
Brisbane City has never lost a match in the two-year history of the tournament, a record coach Pat Byron hopes to continue that in the final against a "quality" Sydney team.
"We've been really happy with how we've gone this year," Byron said.
"Before the season started I don't think we were one of the favourites but the fact we've been able to go through our pool is really pleasing and the boys have done a good job."
While he was loath to single out players, Byron praised the efforts of lock Harrison Fox, hooker Ethan Dobbins and in the backs, our centres Henry Smith and the captain Hudson Creighton.
"We're definitely not taking anything for granted, we were really clear in our objective before the tournament started that we wanted to go back-to-back and it would mean a lot to the boys and their families," Byron said.
"They've all put a lot of effort in and it would be a great reward for them."
In a battle for country rugby dominance, Queensland Country will take on NSW Country Eagles in the bronze medal match while competition hosts, the Brumbies battled the Barbarians in the fifth-place playoff.
The Melbourne Rebels U19s and Rugby WA kicked off proceedings on a packed schedule of finals day action at 9.30am AEDT.
Junior Wallabies head coach Jason Gilmore said he was anticipating some highly competitive rugby to be played.
“It is expected of all the teams that they will bring out their best performances in these finals as we kick off our preparation for what lies ahead in 2020 at the national level," Gilmore said.
“This tournament has allowed us to see players continue their good club form into a national tournament, giving them the best possible opportunity to put their hand up for state academy and Junior Wallabies selection later in the year.”
Watch every match on finals day LIVE at RUGBY.com.au.
