NSW Country Rugby Union

A twenty eight to five point second half scoring spree has seen the NSW Country Cockatoos turn around a half time deficit to run out 40 – 24 winners over the Melbourne Axemen.

The match was played at Bill Strong Oval, Nelson Bay as part of a “Day of Rugby” involving the Cockatoo and VRU Representative Teams, together with teams from the Nelson Bay and Wanderers Rugby Clubs. 

As has been the cases over the past years, matches between the Country Cockatoos and the Melbourne Axemen have been very fiercely contested, and it was obvious from the kick off both teams were there to play.

The opening exchanges saw both sides keen to test out the other defensive lines, with the Axemen showing their intentions early by attempting to run and keep the ball alive at every opportunity.

David Kennedy opened the scoring in the 14^th minute for the Cockatoos when he kicked a close range penalty goal to take a 3 – 0 lead, but this was short lived when the Axemen regained the ball from the restart and fullback Ryan Carmichael steamed onto a pass and sliced through the line and beat the cover defence to score an unconverted try in the corner to lead 5 - 3.

From the restart the Cockatoos were able to contain the Axemen in their half, and they were rewarded in the 17^th minutes when the Axemen were penalised at the breakdown and Kennedy kicked another penalty goal to have the Cockatoos regain the lead 6 – 5.

The next ten minutes saw the Axemen come to life with a series of attacking raids which came close to tries being scored, but they were snuffed out with last ditch defence and hurried clearing kicks.

The Axemen finally crossed for a try in the 27^th minute when half back Lua Vailoaloa ran twenty metres down the sideline from a ruck to score in the corner. The try was duly converted by five eight Maradona Farao and the Axemen had jumped out to a 12 – 6 lead.

The Cockatoos started to mount attacking raids but they were unable to post a try, and it was penalty goals by Kennedy in the 30^th and 34^th minutes which saw them square the match at 12 all.

With the match entering the final stages of the first half, the Axemen continued to attack at every opportunity and by keeping the ball alive they had the Cockatoos’ defence at sixes and sevens.  With minutes left on the clock centre Paulo Aukuso finished off a sweeping backline movement to score in the corner, and following Farao’s conversion the Axemen went to the break leading 19 – 12. 

The second half opened with the Axemen continuing on with the attack, and they had the Cockatoo defence under the pump for a 15 minute period which saw them come close to scoring on several occasions.

The Axemen started to become frustrated and the tide of the match started to swing towards the Cockatoos, and from a ruck on halfway the ball was swung to winger David Kennedy who raced down the sideline before he centre kicked for centre Sam Stewart to regather and score.  Kennedy’s conversion saw the Cockatoos pull level with the Axemen at 19 all. 

Cockatoo debutant and replacement five eight Michael Delore started to find his feet, and the he had the Axemen defence in two minds when he started to take the ball to the line.  After several runs the defence held off in the 61^st minute and he strolled through a yawning gap to race twenty five metres to score next to the posts. Kennedy’s easy conversion saw the Cockatoos increase their lead to 26 – 19.

The Cockatoos were now on a roll and they increased the tempo of the match in both attack and defence.  The intensity of the defence started to rattle the Axemen, and when flanker Alex Burnheim charged down a hurried clearing kick in the 64^th minutes, they pounced on the loose ball and five eight Michael Delore again fooled the defence to run thirty five metres unopposed to score under the black dot.  Kennedy again kicked the conversion and the score had moved onto 33 – 19.

The Axemen never gave up and they continued to attack but they were met with strong defence which snuffed any scoring opportunities.  After mounting several promising raids they turned the ball over in the Cockatoos twenty two on the 70^th minute mark, the ball was quickly transferred to David Kennedy who raced down the sideline before he passed to utility back Luke Harding who offloaded to the tailing lock Matt Dun who raced thirty metres to score under the cross bar.  Kennedy again kicked the conversion and the score-line had blown out to 40 – 19.

To their credit the Axemen never gave up and they continued to attempt to run the ball at every opportunity.  They were rewarded when they worked play into the Cockatoos twenty two and following a line-out win lock Semi Matavura powered his way over for a consolation unconverted try in the 75 minute to make the final score-line 40 – 24.

The remainder of the match saw both sides attack at every opportunity, but the defences held until the end of the match.  

The Cockatoos Player’s Player was lock Matt Dun.

NSW Country Cockatoos – 40 (Michael Delore 2, Matt Dun & Sam Stewart Tries, David Kennedy 4 Penalty Goals & 4 Conversions) 

Defeated

Melbourne Axemen – 24 (4 Tries & 2 Conversions)