Southern Inland Rugby Union have made it a memorable afternoon in Tumut today as the men's side has claimed the Brumbies Provincial Championship over Monaro with a heavy 69-7 win.
The Southern Inland Rugby Union Representative side wasted no time in the match, putting scoreboard pressure on Monaro in just the second minute of play as number eight Tomasi Nabuliwaqa would crack the defence after multiple phases of hard-running from the side in black-and-red.
Off a scrum in the 10th minute SIRU would strike again after number 9 Matthew Roberts would bust through a tackle, draw in two more, before beautifully combining with flyhalf Cameron Thomas who was running onto the ball full steam ahead and would go on to score untouched. Converting his own try, Thomas would give his side a 12-0 lead after 11 minutes of play.
Continuing to beat the clock, a backline shift made its way out to the SIRU fullback Mitch Ivill stationed on the left side who was able to make the most of the opportunity with a try, converted again by Thomas Southern Inlands were ahead 19-0 after 16 minutes.
In the 19th minute of play after continued heavy possession in Monaro's territory, the Southern side would make quick work of an overlap, sending the ball out to left winger Logan Phillips for an easy try, taking them to a 24-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining in the half.
Showing their intensity on both sides of the ball, the black-and-reds then managed to hold off an assault from Monaro for the next four minutes, emerging from the efforts with a clean scoresheet despite some close efforts from Monaro.
In the 30th minute, SIRU would get back to their point-scoring efforts was another scrum meant another chance for Matthew Roberts to show his class and put winger Reuben Sarkis across for a try, extending his sides lead to 31-0 after another conversion from Thomas.
Closing out the half with more intense defence, Monaro managed to overcome the hurdle as Riley Brayshaw bumped off a defender before changing direction and making his way under the posts for Monaro's first try. Converted by captain Dylan Johnson, SIRU would hold a 31-7 lead going into halftime.
The first five-pointer after the break would go to Matthew Roberts as the number nine would finally get a try of his own as a left-side play would make its way back and forth between three hard running SIRU players before ending with Thomas making a clean break which translated into a try. Converted by Thomas SIRU lead 38-7 with 31 minutes remaining in the match.
SIRU would once again extend their lead by another five in thee 65th minute through Nabuliwaqa claiming his second try after another slick short side display from Inland.
Just minutes later, in the 68th SIRU crossed thee line again under the posts through Mason Hughes who would take the sides lead to 50-7 after a conversion to Andrew Fauoo.
With five minutes remaining in the affair, SIRU looked to show they still were not finished as their fullback Mitch Ivill crossed for his second try of the match, this time on the right side after another play with plenty of ball movement from his side.
Crossing the line yet again Southern Inland's Stephen Gill in the 79th minute as he fell over the line, with desperate Monaro defence just unable to stop his effort. However the final try of the match would go to Phillips as the winger scored his second through a team-effort sending him to the try-line once again.
Southern Inland Rugby Union 69 (Tries: Tomasi Nabuliwaqa 2, Cameron Thomas, Mitch Ivill 2, Logan Phillips 2, Reuben Sarkis, Matthew Roberts, Mason Hughes, Stephen Gill; Conversions: Cameron Thomas 4, Andrew Fauoo 3) def. Monaro 7 (Tries: Riley Brayshaw; Conversions: Dylan Johnson)
