Country steals U19s Women's win in extra time thriller
Country have defeated City 26-18 in the Westpac Under 19s Country v City game at Leichhardt Oval today in a match that went into extra time after the two sides couldn’t be separated.
After the scores were locked up 18-all at full-time, the game was forced into extra time with Country prop Hope Millard breaking through the deadlock with a try underneath the posts before hooker Chelsea Savill secured the win with a penalty goal.
City prop Manilita Takapautolo was awarded Player of the Match honours, while Country centre Indie Bostock, the sister of NRL Dolphins player Jack Bostock grabbed a double.
A knock-on from City in the first set of the game gifted Country with great field position only 30 metres out from the try line.
Country capitalised quickly through Bostock who found space out on the right edge before twisting her way passed defenders to score (4-0).
Handling errors early in the game proved costly for City as Country found the line a second time in three minutes. Back-rower Tess McWilliams charged down the ball on a fifth play kick before regathering the ball to score.
Savill successfully converted to extend the lead by 10 points.
City levelled the scores through two back-to-back tries to winger Audrey Nadaya-Harb and Abby Arros, with Nadaya-Harb successfully converting one of the two tries.
Bostock found space on the right side of the field, racing 50 metres down the field to score her second try for the day (14-10).
Trailing by four points heading into second half, City marched their way upfield before creating an overlap on the left, quickly shifting the ball for Nadaya-Harb to score in the corner (14-all).
The lead was regained by Country in the 37th minute, after the right side combined down the short side to send fullback Lilly-Ann White over in the corner (18-14).
Despite trailing by four points, a penalty gave City a great attacking opportunity which they didn’t let go to waste. Five-eighth Raphaella Perigo took control of the play, straightening up the defence before passing the ball to winger Bella McEachern to score (18-all).
With the scores remaining level for the final 10 minutes, the game entered extra time.
Off the back of two penalties, Country found the line through Millard who steamrolled her way under the posts. Savill converted the try to extend the lead to 24-18.
In the second half of extra time, Country received another penalty and opted to take the penalty goal with Savill successfully converting (26-18).
Country 26 (Indie Bostock 2, Tess McWilliams, Lilly-Ann White, Hope Millard tries: Chelsea Savill 3 goals) City 18 (Audrey Nadaya-Harb 2, Abby Aros, Bella McEachern tries; Audrey Nadaya-Harb goal)
