The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies have won the U19s Super Rugby competition for the second year on the spin after an enthralling 40-31 victory over the Queensland Reds at Ballymore Stadium.
It was an incredible, topsy turvy encounter between two teams willing to play an exciting brand of rugby, with the lead changing hands several times over the course of the 80 minutes.
Ultimately it was the Brumbies who came out on top, with number eight and man of the match Beau Morrison sealing the deal in the closing stages with a late touchdown.
Centre Malakye Enasio also ran over for a double, with further tries from Jacob John and wingers Silas Pilot and Samson Tuqiri. While Sam McLachlan kicked five conversions from six off the tee.
It was an engrossing start to the match as the Reds nearly went over in the very first minute, before ACT went down the other end and scored after just three minutes. Quick ball off the top of the lineout saw flanker Jono Ryan hit a sharp line off Enasio to fly through the Reds defence, before drawing the fullback to play in backrow partner John. A 65m, flowing score and McLachlan added the extras.
The Reds replied just four minutes later with a powerful driving maul seeing hooker Finlay King go over to tie the match, and after 14 minutes they took the lead when Vaiuta Latu bulldozed his way over for a converted score.
At this stage, the Brumbies did incredibly well to weather the Queensland storm as the opposition were camped in our half. However, ACT regained territory and closed the gap to two with 14 minutes left until half-time when fly-half Joe Dillon threw a bullet off a pass out wide to put over Pilot in the corner.
After half an hour the momentum fully shifted the Brumbies way when Dillon drilled a 50-22 and from the resulting lineout, Enasio gathered his own grubber through to score an excellent try. McLachlan's conversion sailed through the posts and the score remained 19-14 at half-time.
Into the second half and the topsy turvy nature continued with the Reds scoring from another driving maul nine minutes in through flanker Tom Robinson, but ACT responded instantly with Enasio dotting down for a second time after a lovely outside step and offload from skipper Shane Wilcox. The drama then continued as straight from the kick-off Dom Kallquist collected a charge-down for Queensland to dive over.
16 minutes from time Reds fullback Brody McLaren sent over a penalty to put his side 31-26 ahead, but the Brumbies showed immense character to keep their heads in the game and three minutes later they took the lead with a converted score from Tuqiri, who ran a superb support line after great work from McLachlan.
ACT held firm during the final stages and it was left for man of the match Morrison to clinch the title, after skipper Wilcox collected and fed inside, to cap off a memorable win and a second consecutive title.
The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies 40 - 31 Queensland Reds
Tries: John (‘3), Pilot (’25), Enasio (’29, ’52), Tuqiri (’67), Morrison (’78)
Conversions: McLachlan (‘4, ’30, ’53, ’68, ’79)
The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Super Rugby U19s Team v Queensland Reds
1. Finn Baxter (Sydney University)
2. Lipina Ata (Eastwood)
3. Komi Lester Tuitea (Warringah)
4. Ollie Aylmer (Gordon)
5. Billy Hansen (Easts)
6. Jacob John (Queanbeyan)
7. Jono Ryan (Tuggeranong)
8. Beau Morrison (Sydney University)
9. Lachlan Smith (Gungahlin)
10. Joe Dillon (Manly)
11. Samson Tuqiri (Tuggeranong)
12. Sam McLachlan (Gungahlin)
13. Malakye Enasio (Gungahlin)
14. Silas Pilot (Tuggeranong)
15. Shane Wilcox (Tuggeranong)
Substitutes
16. Bailey Buesnel (Tuggeranong)
17. James Foster (Gungahlin)
18. Liuaki Percival (Tuggeranong)
19. Deveraux Tapelu (Gungahlin)
20. Matt Hanley (Warringah)
21. Wally Wentzel (Tuggeranong)
22. Joey Henry (Royals)
23. Patrick Broe (Uni-Norths)
