NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND NINE REVIEW
The semi-finalists for 2017 have been decided with Canberra Vikings, Queensland Country, the Fijian Drua and Perth Spirit just making the cut.
A thrilling last-minute 38-38 draw between NSW Country Eagles and Brisbane City in Orange has left the Eagles just outside the top four. Country were up at the halfway mark with the score sitting 14-7. However the two sides traded blows in the second half and Brisbane came home strong to level the scores with two minutes remaining. Then both sides won penalties well after the final bell but couldn’t find the points to win.
The Fijian Drua finished the regular season with a second consecutive loss on home soil after going down 36-29 against the Sydney Rays in a thrilling Suva match. The Drua’s bonus point leaves them in third place on the competition table and playing away to Queensland Country in next week’s semi final action.
This afternoon Canberra sewed up the number one spot on the ladder with their 35-22 win over the Greater Sydney Rams at TG Millner.
Perth Spirit will compete in their third NRC finals following a tense 29-26 win over Queensland Country in Ipswich. Peter Grant’s penalty goal in the 80th minute sealed the deal and booted NSW Country out of the semi-finals. The Western Australian boys will also finish the season as holders of the Horan-Little Shield and the first team to have their name engraved twice.
Next weekend the Vikings will take on Perth Spirit on Saturday at Viking Park and Queensland Country will battle it out against the Fiji Drua on Sunday in Toowoomba.
NRC standings after Round Nine
Canberra Vikings 29
Bond University Queensland Country 29
Fiji Airways Drua 22
Road Safety Perth Spirit 20
Elders NSW Country Eagles 20
McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City 20
Greater Sydney Rams 13
Macquarie University Sydney Rays 13
Melbourne Rising 4
Saturday 28 October
Elders NSW Country Eagles v McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City
Elders NSW Country Eagles 38 (Tries: Paenga-Amosa 3, Pen, A. Gibbon; Cons: Adams 3, Hill; Pens: Adams; Cards: Adams (25’))
McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City 38 (Tries: Laloifi 2, Pen, Morrey, Gunn, Kuridrani; Cons: Strachan 3; Cards: Morrey (50’))
Saturday 28 October
Fiji Airways Drua v Macquarie University Sydney Rays
Fiji Airways Drua 29 (Tries: Cavuilati 2, Douglas 2, Raidre; Cons: Douglas 2; Yellow Cards E. Sau (52’)
Macquarie University Sydney Rays 36 (Tries: Simone 2, Fitzpatrick 2, Latunipulu, Duffy; Cons: Hegarty 2, Lane 1)
Sunday 29 October
Greater Sydney Rams v Canberra Vikings
Greater Sydney Rams 22 (Tries: Dunbar, Spice, Holloway; Cons: Mason, Ayoub; Pens: Mason; Yellow Cards: Cotton (38’))
Canberra Vikings 35 (Tries: Lonergan, Cusack, Johnston, Fakaosilea, Valetini; Cons: Lonergan 5)
Sunday 29 October
Bond University Queensland Country v Road Safety Perth Spirit
Bond University Queensland Country 26 (Tries: Campbell, Tuttle, Feauai-Sautia, James; Cons: Tuttle 3
Road Safety Perth Spirit 29 (Tries: Arnold, Ferris, Jooste, Malolo; Cons: Grant 3; Pens: Grant)
ENDS
(Source: NRC Media Release)