COUNTRY ON T ARGET FOR SHOO TOUT
BOWEN product Harry Hockings is confident Queensland Country have the weapons to defend their National Rugby Championship title after keeping their unbeaten start intact with a 29- 28 win over Melbourne Rising in Townsville yesterday.
In oppressive conditions at Mike Carney Toyota Park, the hosts hung on to secure a second straight win to begin their title defence.
On the back of a dominant scrum, the winless Rising threatened to steal a victory when Isi Naisarani barged over with three minutes left to reduce the deficit to one.
But their comeback fell flat when they failed to find touch from a penalty kick near halfway in the dying seconds.
Towering lock Hockings, 20, racked up 11 Super Rugby caps for the Queensland Reds this year.
“We spoke about outworking them,” Hockings said. “In this heat it was going to be a tough game for both teams, but we just had to hold on for longer than them and turn up.
“They did very well in the scrum, they’ve got a lot of good forwards. But we did enough to make up for that around the park.
“We’ve got a young team, and are growing all the time.
“I was really looking forward to this game and the one in Mackay ( next week against Fiji) as well. Being from Bowen, they’re local games for me.”
Queensland Country began well with an early try to scrum- half James Tuttle, but back- to- back tries to his opposite number Michael Ruru handed the 14- 5 advantage.
From the kick- off a knockon from Rising winger Sefa Naivalu gave Country field position, and they eventually took full toll through a barge over try to second rower Angus Blyth to reduce the gap to 14- 12 at halftime.
Queensland winger Jock Campbell scored early in the second half to regain the lead, but the Rising responded soon after through fly- half Archie King to hit the front 21- 17. However, tries to Joey Fittock and Efi Ma’afu were enough to get Queensland Country home.
Country prop James Slipper did not return to the match after undergoing a concussion test in the first half, and will be monitored before this week’s clash.
The Rising have now lost two tough road trips to Fiji visitors a and Country in stifling heat to begin their campaign.
“You can always use it ( travel) as an excuse, but we’re not going to,” Rising captain Angus Cottrell said.
“I think it was our scrum versus their lineout. After we scored points we took the pressure off, and they were able to score straight away.”
QUEENSLAND COUNTRY 29 ( James Tuttle, Angus Blyth, Jock Campbell, Joey Fittock, Efi Ma’afu tries; Tuttle, Hamish Stewart conv) bt MELBOURNE RISING ( Michael Ruru 2, Archie King, Isi Naisarani tries; King 3, Kemu Valentini conv) at Mike Carney Toyota Park, Townsville yesterday.