Qld teams win first up in U16s
Queensland's two Under 16 teams will play teams from NSW at Nudgee College on Wednesday afternoon after opening the national championships with decisive victories on Day One.
Queensland Red scored a resounding 39-17 win over the ACT in energy sapping heat in the morning game, while Queensland White held out a wind-assisted Victorian fightback in the afternoon game to prevail 26-12.
The Red side will now play Sydney Juniors at 1:50pm on Wednesday and the White side will meet top seed NSW Schools in the following game at 3:10pm, with the winners to go through to Friday's final.
In the first match today, the pace of the Queensland Red outside backs was too much for the young Brumbies, who trailed 32-7 at halftime after conceding five first half tries.
A dominant Queensland lineout and dogged defence on their own line also contributed to the home side's first half superiority.
The Brumbies lifted their game after halftime but the Queensland side had the last say, when a deft kick by livewire half Matt Lucas - brother of the QR Reds' Ben Lucas - led to a nicely taken try by wing speedster Chris Sautia.
Lucas, who fed the scrum in the first half and then moved out to flyhalf in the second, showed judgment and poise with his kicking and passing game, while tall inside centre Kirisome Auva'a posed problems for the Brumbies' defence with his hard, straight running.
Queensland Red 39 (Liam Gill, Waita Setu, Chris Sautia, Kirisome Auva'a, Saunda Seumanutafa, James May tries, Cayden Matehaere 2 con, pen, Jayden Sheck con) def ACT 17
Queensland White also got off to a flying start in the first half, to lead 19-5 at the break after a dominant half of football where they controlled all facets of play.
With the wind at their backs in the second half Victoria came back, using the wind to better advantage to control field position for two thirds of the match. The Queensland cause was not helped by poor kicking options at times into the breeze.
However as in the morning match, the home side defended well and finished the stronger of the two teams.
Queensland White 26 (Nick Turner, Luke Beauchamp, Louis Frisby, Joel Marama tries, Dion Taumata 3 con) def Victoria 12.
