The NSWIU16s have kicked a penalty goal after the siren to secure a dramatic 24-all draw with Queensland tonight.
Despite a number of unforced errors from both sides throughout the game, both teams managed to play entertaining rugby league in front of an appreciative and vocal crowd at CBUS Super Stadium.
Zac Saddler opened the scoring for NSW with a barnstoring effort close to the line that saw NSW take an early 6-0 lead.
Unforced errors from the Blues invited Queensland back into the contest and the Maroons made them pay with two quick tries for a 10-6 lead. A clever set play from NSW in only their second foray into the oppostion red zone, saw them level the score for an unlikely draw at half-time after missing the conversion from close range.
NSW halfback Tristan Reilly scored the first of his two tries early in the second half, when he produced a show and go that Indigenous All Stars half Jonathan Thurston would have been proud of to take a 16-10 lead.
Once again, unforced errors from NSW invited QLD back into the contest and two quick tries saw the Maroons snatch a 24-16 lead with only eight minutes remaining.
Tristan Reilly produced another opportunistic try with five minutes remaining to reduce the defecit to two points, before a penalty on the full-time siren allowed NSW centre Lincoln Stewart to step up to mark and convert the penalty goal for the draw from 35 metres out.
A big congratulations to both sides who played the game with tremendous attitudes befitting of the All Stars celebrations.
