George Alakiki
New South Wales most promising future Rugby League stars came together on Saturday afternoon in the Cabe U18s Men's Country v City match which saw City’s finish 30-14 victors over their Country counterparts at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah.
Country stamped their authority from the opening set, unafraid to stretch either side of City’s defence. They took first points inside two minutes as halves Rielly Laverty and Toby Batten linked up on the right before centre Glassie Glassie attracted two defenders to put Archie Wheeler over untouched (4-0).
City’s attack finally paid off when three spine members in halves Lincoln Fletcher, Cameron Bamblett and fullback Oliver Lester combined to break the line and send Itule Seve over near the posts (6-4).
Country’s Batten produced a magical moment of his own soon later with a deft inside step to break the line, before putting on the afterburners to beat Lester to the tryline (8-6)
But with a minute to the halftime break City struck again as a threatening Lester broke through multiple tackles to find Bamblett, who put his winger Paul Johnson away. The boot of Fletcher put City ahead 12-8 going into the sheds.
After extinguishing some early second half pressure, City kept the momentum going to start the second half as interchange players Jaylan Bishop and Seve linked up with a deceptive inside play on Country’s line to send the barnstorming prop crashing over for his second (18-8).
Some charging carries and quick play the balls up the left side of City’s attack kept them threatening, culminating with a cut-out pass from Bamblett to Johnson who found Lester back on the inside (24-8)
Country weren’t done fighting as they made their way up the park before a deft grubber from Batten fell nicely to Laverty to bring the margin to within ten (24-14).
City captain Darcy Smith put the final nail in the coffin for the leaders just before the final buzzer, capitalising off tired legs in the middle of the park to barge his way under the posts and end the match with City 30-14 victors.
Talking points
- City started the game with a mix of penalties conceded and errors. It cost them points on either side of the field.
- Country sought to get the ball wide and use their outside backs, which worked to great effect early. Up against the highly touted Heamasi Makasini, centre Glassie Glassie held his own.
- By contrast, City’s insistence to attack direct through the middle paid off. Hookers Jaylan Bishop and Cody Hill had a field day in the ruck for their side. Their speed kept Country’s defence on their toes and wore them down as the game continued.
Key Moment
It was a fine display from both halfbacks, but City’s Lincoln Fletcher came out on top, controlling his sides movement across the field and was perfect off the boot, including conversions.
