GIO NSW City have kicked off a day of GIO Country v City representative fixtures with a dominant win over GIO NSW Country, producing a powerful all-round performance to claim a 48-12 victory at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale.
City dominated the opening half with sharp attacking play and clinical finishing to take a commanding 28-6 lead at the break. They maintained their dominance throughout the second half to seal the 36-point victory.
City started the day with a try to prop Jack Asplet under the posts. A penalty in favour of City saw them march upfield, tapping the ball 20m out from the line. A strong run from centre Malachi Faavae-Eli helped straighten the attack before a charging run from Asplet saw City claim the opening four points. A successful conversion from halfback Ezekiel Stanley-Ligaiviu gave City a 6-0 lead.
It didn’t take long for City to extend their lead as fullback Lorima Seuseu spotted an opportunity on the right edge. Skipping his way around the Country defence, Seuseu made a bold run for the try-line before diving over in the corner. Stanley-Ligaiviu converted from the sideline to extend City’s lead to 12-0.
Back in their attacking 20, a cross-field kick on the last play from Stanley-Ligaiviu saw NSW Country attempt to clean up the ball, but a knock-on in the in-goal bounced perfectly for City number 15 Kobie Mcgaughey to score. Just minutes later, Seuseu set the field alight once again, dancing his way around the right edge before delivering a pass to centre Monson Hopoate, who crossed for another City try. Another successful conversion pushed the lead out to 22-0.
The City left edge came alive following a strong run and offload from Bronson Tupou, setting the attack up perfectly. Spreading the ball to the left saw the Country defence outnumbered as winger Levi Scarlett planted the ball down in the corner. Stanley-Ligaiviu had a strong first half with the boot, converting four from five attempts as City led 28-0 with three minutes remaining in the half.
Just before halftime, Country found their first points of the match courtesy of playmaker Tayden Hay. He took on the City defensive linewith a brave run before producing a quick inside pass to Nate Waters, who had a clear run to the try-line. Joel Trevethan added the extras, sending NSW Country into the break trailing 28-6.
City came flying out of the blocks to start the second half as Lorima Seuseu once again caused problems for the Country defence with the ball in hand. Seuseu spun out of a tackle and charged towards the line, to deliver a clever inside pass to Faavae-Eli, who crossed to extend City’s lead. Moments later, Faavae-Eli grabbed his second try of the half in quick succession, soaring above the contest to regather a kick before planting the ball down to push City out to a commanding 30-point advantage.
Country never gave up, finding points in the second half with just over 10 minutes remaining. A six-again call in favour of Country right in front of the try-line caught the City defence off guard as Hay placed a clever grubber kick through the line, with captain Bryce Blatch leading the chase to score. The successful conversion narrowed the margin to 36-12.
City continued their points spree late in the match, with tries to prop Josaiah Manuofetoa and fullback Lorima Seuseu under the posts sealing a dominant 48-12 victory.
