The City team was victorious over Country in their annual representative match played at Brookvale Oval on Saturday 10 May 2014.
Played in perfect conditions, the much more fancied City team started strongly, applying plenty of pressure and looked likely to score on a number of occasions but the Country defence scrambled well to hold them out. Ten minutes into the match the City side, 20 metres from the Country line, spread the ball wide and looked likely to score when Country winger Chad Borger stole the ball to run 80 meters for the first try of the match. An easy conversion by Saleh Jaidi and against all odds the country boys were in front 6-0.
However, it did not take long for the City team to regather its forces and minutes later their big front rower Joe Mourad crashed over for a try near the posts and soon after a slick pass from City half David Rauluni put Andrew Kalaopea over and City was in front 12-6. Despite being on the wrong end of possession and field position, the Country team fought back to level the score when Aussie Junior Poko, who was to prove a real handful for the City defence, crossed and with 13 minutes left on the clock the score was drawn 12 all.
City hit back almost straight away when five eight Michael Zappia sliced his way through and they looked likely to take a 16-12 lead to the break until Country fullback Daniel Stephen scored just before the half time hooter and against all odds the Country side went to the sheds leading 18-16.
The second half started with a bang for Country when Poko crossed for his second try after only minutes of play and it looked like they were going to pull off a surprise win. But it was not going to be the case as the speed of the game began to take its toll on a Country side that had thrown everything at City and was beginning to run out of steam.
At the mid point of the half City’s Viliami Moeakila burst through a wilting Country defence to score and soon after their winger Chris Glover crossed wide out to give his side a 24-22 lead. The final 15 minutes was all City with tries to fullback Tyson Tieitie and another Glover sealing a win.
Man of the Match: TJ Taotua (City)
Players Player City: David Rauluni
Players Player Country: Aussie Junior Poko
City 34 (Tries: Chris Glover 2, Tyson Tietie, Michael Zappia, Joe Mourad,
Steve Spilios, Viliami Moeakila, Goals: Tyson Tietie 2, Steve Spilios)
bt Country 22 (Tries: Aussie Junior Poko 2, Daniel Stephen, Chad Borger, Goals: Saleh Jaidi 3)
