Tahs triumph in classic encounter

By Mick McTaggart
Updated November 7 2012 - 1:00pm, first published May 17 2010 - 12:40am
ON THE CHARGE: Waratahs star Mick Roche breaks into space against Ag College in the Southern Inland Rugby Union blockbuster at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday. Pictures: Hayley Hillis
ON THE CHARGE: Waratahs star Mick Roche breaks into space against Ag College in the Southern Inland Rugby Union blockbuster at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday. Pictures: Hayley Hillis
DECEPTION:  Ag College player Suart Geard (right) wrong-foots Waratahs opponent George Flannery at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.
DECEPTION: Ag College player Suart Geard (right) wrong-foots Waratahs opponent George Flannery at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.
CLEAN POSSESSION: Waratahs forward Matt Meggison grabs the ball in a lineout at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.
CLEAN POSSESSION: Waratahs forward Matt Meggison grabs the ball in a lineout at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.

THE hype was right as Waratahs snatched a sensational 31-26 victory over Ag College in the Southern Inland Rugby Union grand final rematch at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.In one of the most entertaining and high standard SIRU games in recent years, Ag College led 26-25 before Waratahs grabbed what was to be the winning try 10 minutes from the end.Both teams were lauded for serving up a fabulous football spectacle to the large and appreciative crowd.Saturday's game just about had it all, with Tahs trailing 16-10 at half-time and again late in the day.Waratahs coach Richard Skellern needed to take a deep breath before giving his thoughts on a classic dogfight.Skellern was quick to hand accolades to the losers."Ag College showed they are going to defend last year's premiership very proudly," Skellern said."My players really stepped up to the plate when the heat was on and I thought they responded magnificently."Skellern said Waratahs had survived a barrage from Ag College to keep its unbeaten record intact this season."They (Aggies) threw everything at us in the final 10 minutes," he said."Considering we were down a player (yellow card) for most of the final 20 minutes I couldn't fault our player's commitment in defence.Ag College coach Andrew Corcoran was still upbeat after the loss, reflecting on how close the team had come to again stopping Tahs unbeaten spree."I can only congratulate my players on their efforts and compliment Waratahs on the way they played," Corcoran said."I thought our forwards were tremendous."Our backs scored all our points but I thought the forwards really muscled."Corcoran admitted he was concerned when Tahs "strolled" over for the opening try in just the third minute."But once we settled down it was a real contest," he said."At half time we talked about keeping the pressure on, but they (Waratahs) scored in the first minute after the break."That proved costly on the scoreboard as well as giving them (Waratahs) some much needed confidence."Looking ahead, Corcoran said Aggies need to refocus for another big game on Saturday."We now have to concentrate on playing Rivcoll," he said."This is going to be the main attraction on a great day of rugby which will celebrate the club's 60th year."Tahs started with a flurry on Saturday when star five-eighth Xavier Chigwidden wasted no time getting the team on the board.In the third minute Chigwidden breezed through a big gap in the Ag College defence 15 metres out and passed to captain Ricky Dumigan who raced over between the posts.By the time the conversion was kicked, Tahs were up 7-0 and some of the crowd were still settling into their seats.Two penalty goals to Ag College fullback Shahid Khalfan (fifth minute, 11th minute) bridged the gap to 7-6 before Waratahs kicker Ian Croft made it 10-6 with a penalty in the 13th minute.In the 17th minute Ag College scored its first try when right-winger Barton Whiteley was on the end of simple hands out wide before shrugging off a defender to cross out wide.Aggies struck again minutes later when centre Joe Reynolds offloaded to winger Christian Hoolihan who raced 10 metres to score.Down 16-10 at half-time, Tahs launched their comeback in blistering style.Barely minutes into the second half left-winger Jack Meagher motored up the sideline from 70 metres out and out-sped several Ag College cover defenders to score a great individual try.Croft converted from the sideline and Tahs were back in front 17-16.Khalfan, however, replied with another penalty to put his team back in front in the 47th minute, but another try to Meagher pushed Tahs ahead again.With the game in the balance, Ag College hooker Stuart Geard offloaded a great ball for Hoolihan to score in the corner to make it 24-all.Khalfan landed the conversion to give Aggies a 26-24 advantage, but it was short lived.Within a minute Waratahs was back in front after a beautiful pass from Chigwidden found fullback Dan Selmes roaming wide and he glided through a gap to bag the critical try.The last 10 minutes were amazing.The passion and determination was being felt in the grandstand as play see-sawed up and down the field.Waratahs stars included centre Pat Barrett, Meagher and breakaway Matt Meggison, while Ag College's best were Maloney, Hoolihan, Meagher and lock Dave Armstrong.

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