Last year Anthony Magro's City upset the much fancied Country squad, and this year they were keen to impress again. With an astounding number of debutants on both sides, it was always going to be hard for punters and even the coaches, to predict how the game would go.
The game started in typical representative style, with the forwards hitting it up, and safety first football from both sides. Whilst Matthew Burke pilotted the Country side around in the absence of Andrew Johns, it was Sherwin and Anasta controlling the big City pack. The Ra-Ra converts, David Lyons and Wellington's Phil Waugh, were the best on show early- dominating established stars Craig Fitzgibbon and Luke Bailey. Despite the forward domination, the first points came from a flare-packed backline movement from Country. Central Coast sensation, Ben Harris, stepped around team-mate Hazem El Masri before offloading to surprise selection, Anthony Mundine. 'The Man' crashed in out wide, but Burke was unable to convert, giving Country a 4-0 lead.
Mundine went from hero to villain in the next play, blowing an opportunity to score. Ian Hindmarsh burst through the line from the kick-off, and found a screaming Mundine on the outside. Ignoring two support players, Mundine chipped for himself, but failed to regather. The game continued at a good pace, with Country's backs continually playing over surprise selections, Mark Gasnier and Joe Black. The tenth minute saw the injection of big men Josh Perry and Willie Mason for the Country side, who quickly got a roll on. A penalty for offside, brought up by the Country quick play-the-balls, gave Burke a gift two points to extend the lead to 6-0.
It took a scant few minutes for City to make an impression on the scoreboard, Anthony Minichiello collecting a weak Mundine grubber and making an incisive run up field before being dragged down by Darwin's Craig Hall. Two plays later saw Gold Coast's George Smith plow over from dummy half, putting it down cleanly despite the attentions of Ian Hindmarsh and Ben Harris. El Masri, amazingly, missed a relatively simple conversion to leave his side two adrift at 6-4 in the 13th.
The try clearly got under the skin of several Country players, Anthony Mundine threatened with ten in the bin after he took Gasnier late, and then had the audacity to pick a fight with the Carnarvon centre. No brawl eventuated, much to the dismay of the crowd, but the resulting penalty had City deep on the attack. The tap from Dominik Bush, followed by a bullet pass out wide, caught Country by surprise- halfback Brent Sherwin hitting the ball at speed and scoring untouched. El Masri again missed the conversion, and City lead for the first time at 8-6.
The kick-off proved just as painful for City, John Hopoate making a mockery of the Country backline as he embarked on a bullocking fifty metre run. Having gained eighty metres off four tackles, and with Country's forwards still struggling to get back onside, the City side spread it wide before a deft Sherwin inside pass put Robbie Kearns in under the posts. El Masri had no trouble with the conversion, and the City side had both their opponents and the big Tamworth crowd awe-struck at 14-6.
Country, through the injection of Wellington's Trent Barret, stabilised markedly after this. Barret's kicking game and intensity in defence proved integral as Country not only easily repelled further City raids, but also managed to embark on a few promising ones of their own. Barret played a big hand in the next Country try, cutting out to players to find Josh Perry out wide. Perry carried three over with him, and Burke was quick to hit the conversion and bring the margin back to two at 14-12.
The clock wound down into half-time, with niggling injuries seeing George Smith and David Furner both sidelined.
HALFTIME: Country 12 trail City 14
Matthew Burke got proceedings underway in the second half, with the young front row of Josh Perry and Willie Mason putting plenty of sting in their hits as the City side fought to break out of their danger zone. They didn't, and when Brent Sherwin's kick was charged down by Glenn Morrison, it looked as if Country's newfound exuberance would result in points. Only a desperation tackle from Anthony Minichiello was able to save City.
City, through Brent Sherwin, managed to fight back in the ensuing set- making seventy metres before a tricky bomb was fumbled by Craig Hall. The resulting set of six looked dangerous, but Harris, MacDougall, and Barret all showed plenty of class in repelling the raid. But for City, the worst news was the injury of inspirational fullback Anthony Minichiello, stretchered off the field holding his lower back after a dominant Josh Perry tackle. Adelaide's Matt Geyer came on to play fullback, but Country were clearly lifted by the absence of the elusive fullback.
Hazem El Masri evened the ledger against his Central Coast team-mate, Harris, in the 62nd- getting outside him and then outpacing him to score a scintillating try. He rubbed salt into the wound by converting his own try, and the game looked dangerously out of reach for Country at 20-12.
The remaining eighteen minutes saw Country coaches, Kermitt Crockett and John Williams, argue bitterly as they sought to bring the game back. Timmins, Mundine, and even Furner's re-injections into the match couldn't salvage the game- City coach Anthony Magro celebrating as the siren went on a 20-12 win by City.
FULL TIME: Country 12 lost City 20
COUNTRY: Josh Perry and Anthony Mundine. Burke 2/3
CITY: Hazem El Masri, George Smith, Robbie Kearns, and Brent Sherwin. El Masri 2/4
MAN OF THE MATCH: Anthony Minichiello (City)
Hazem El Masri (City) 2
Adam MacDougall (Country) 1
After the game Coach Williams had this to say
Williams: First of all I'd like to congratulate Coach Magro and the city boys, for a very good game of football.
Next I'd like to congratulate my boys they couldnt quite make it over the line but with a loss comes passion and with the newblood being debuted tonight the future for the country boys looks very bright, I'd like to thank the fans and the CRL and also, one last thing to announce my resignation from my post as country coach and turn the reigns over to some fresh hands.
I'd also like to wish the country boys the best of Luck.
Reporter #1: Who would you like to replace you?
Williams: Anyone but Kermit :)
Reporter #2: Some people might say Phil Gould might be the man
Williams: :censored:
Reporter #3: Any Truth in the rumour of Robbie Kearns leaving North Melbourne?
Williams: This conference is for tonights game nothing else but it would take a big offer to get him, he did get over the line tonight maybe he can play in the centres ;)
Reporter #4: Who do you think were the standouts tonight
Williams: I think there were 34 standouts but if I had to narrow down I'd say Phil Waugh was Outstanding for the forwards and Minichello until his injury ripping us to shreds.
Williams: thats it thank you all.
Coach Williams later quoted saying he would now concentrate on taking the maulers to the finals and leading the way for welsh rugby league.
What a thrilling game of football, ha and they said that the City vs. County game was dead, without passion and not interesting. To all those I question there theory after this match because City vs. Country isn't dead.
A hell of a battle was played out there, 80 minutes of grewling football played. It was as entertaining to the fan as it was worring when we lost Minichello. Full credit to the country staff, Williams first representitive game which I hope to see more to come and Krocket who is fighting a tough battle back at Manly.
To all the players I say both thank you for the limited time we spent together, training was tough and the hours were long but we managed to win. I was highly impressed with the quality of both the team and the individual star and I think Chris Walker-Bush would be too. I look forward to the Origin series because this one should be tough.
I have to get on my way, the Falcons have a training session before our match against Gold Coast. We lost 7 player from our line up plus the injury to Phillipe which will see a baby Falcons squad in the line up.
Nice way to slip in that you have seven out.
I have six, as well as two injuries. Just so everyone knows. :P
Chris
