GIO NSW City have survived a tense extra-time battle to defeat GIO NSW Country 38-24 after the open men’s match was locked up 24-24 at full-time at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale, today.
Country struck first through hooker Luke Huth. An early penalty handed Country another set of six deep in attacking territory, and they made it count straight away. Huth dummied to the left, split the defensive line, and burrowed his way through to score the opening try. Corey Fenning added the extras as Country took an early 6-0 lead.
A quick response from City saw them hit back in the 9th minute through centre Compton Fuatimau. Fuatimau charged onto the ball with a strong and direct line, bursting through the defensive line to crash over and level the scores. The movement was generated through lock Kenny Soumpholphakdy and halfback Keahlan Bray, who combined well to shift the ball and put their centre into space. Damon Humphrys added the extras to level the score 6-6.
City continued to build pressure after earning a penalty and kicking to touch just 15m out from the try-line. Keeping the pressure on, they shifted the ball wide to the right edge where attacking numbers grew, with the final pass tipped on to Fuatimau who crossed for his second try of the match. The successful sideline conversion completed City’s early turnaround, and from there both sides went into a tighter arm wrestle for the remainder of the half with the score remaining unchanged at the break, 12-6.
Country kept the pressure on when halfback Angus Ernst threatened the defensive line and earned a six-again call just 10m out. From the repeated set, second-rower Reid Alchin powered through, initially knocked down but quickly regathering himself before pushing back, stretching and reaching out for the try. The successful conversion brought Country right back into the contest 12-12.
Another six-again was called in favour of Country, after a kick on the last was touched by City. With Country regaining possession and earning a fresh set inside the attacking 10m, centre Nicholas Hall scooped up a loose ball and quickly shifted it on to number 16 Jake Goodwin, who dived over next to the posts. The successful conversion brought the score to 18-12.
The contest tightened as City once again levelled the scores. On the end of a well-placed kick from Bray, winger Sione Manakofua rose above the pack in a strong kick chase, plucking the ball cleanly out of the air before his momentum carried him over the try-line to score. It was a quick response from City as they struck straight back to keep the match an even contest 18-all.
Country produced a brilliant play to snatch back the lead with less than nine minutes remaining. On the last tackle, Ryan Glanville sent a high ball to the left edge, where Nathan Dwyer soared above the contest, winning the battle and bringing the ball down to score as he landed over the line. Corey Fenning was unable to convert, leaving the game a four-point margin with just over seven minutes remaining.
A six-again call deep in attacking territory saw City looking to capitalise and turn the opportunity into points as the clock wound down. From close range, winger Manakofua darted out from dummy-half, diving over on the short side to level the scores at 22-all. Humphrys was then tasked with a difficult conversion from out wide, but he held his nerve to send the kick through and put City in front 24-22
A late penalty for Country 25m out to the right of the posts saw Corey Fenning step up under immense pressure. Having previously missed a conversion that nearly cost his side, Fenning kept his composure when it mattered most and calmly slotted the goal. With just 17 seconds remaining, the scores were locked up once again, sending the match into extra-time in a dramatic 24-all finish.
Country kicked off extra-time, with the match set over two five-minute halves before golden point if required. City struck first when a last-tackle kick caused chaos under the posts, with Country knocking on before captain and lock Jake Rafferty-Butfield reacted quickest to regather and score next to the posts.
The conversion gave City a 30-24 lead, before Damon Humphrys extended the margin with a long-range penalty goal to send them into half-time of extra-time up 32-24. In the second half, a Country knock-on handed City a scrum 40m out, and with just 20 seconds remaining, centre Simon Tito finished a slick move off a tip-on pass to seal the win, with the conversion confirming a 38-24 extra-time victory.
