The Wests Lions have made the most of their visit to ANU North Oval this afternoon, handing the Owls their 10th loss of the season with a 53-21 masterclass from the visiting side.
After a relatively even start from both sides, Wests would get on the scoreboard first as in the fifth minute winger Timoci Naivaluwaqa would shut down a Uni backline play and pinch the ball for himself before running away for the five-pointer. Narrowly missing the first conversion was Declan Meredith after he struck the left upright, keeping the score at 5-0 to Wests.
Suffering a yellow card in the 14th minute, Uni-Norths looked certain to concede their second try after Timoci Sauvoli barnstormed through the home side after a lineout, but was unable to hold onto the ball.
In the 21st minute, Wests would finally make the most of their one-man-advantage with a try to Declan Meredith after some incredible ball movement from his sides' front rowers Sauvoli and Aisake Atani, making for an easy try for their number 10. Converting his own try, Meredith would extend his sides lead to 12-0 after 21 minutes of play.
Later in the 29th minute Wests would suffer a yellow card of their own and have to manage without Otto Wrakonei while defending their 12 point lead. The Lions would however score next proving they can score with both a one-man advantage as well as a disadvantage.
Tomasi Bikaca would score after Declan Meredith would get centimetres away from his second try before being dragged down by a desperate Owls defence. The home-side were unable to shut down Meredith's second effort being a pop-up pass back to Bikaca who would leap across the tryline for a 19-0 lead following a Meredith conversion.
Wests would complete their near-perfect first half with another try as in the 42nd minute a slick short-side play would manage to shift the Gilbert to Oryaan Kalolo who showed his class delivering the final pass to the eventual try-scorer Austin Anderson. Bringing up his third conversion, Meredith would take the final half-time score to 26-0.
In the 45th minute of the match following a short injury stoppage, Wests would pick up where they left off, after a scrum in Uni-Norths territory would give an opportunity to Bikaca who would show off his brute strength once again, barrelling over the Owls defence for his second try of the match.
Just a minute later, Bikaca would complete a hat-trick performance after Kalolo would once again make short work of Uni-Norths defence when exiting Wests red zone. Then passing the ball to the afternoon's hat-trick hero who managed to complete the long-range effort after showing off plenty of pace, and a dummy pass which worked wonders on his way to the line. Following Bikaca's quickfire double Wests would hold onto a 36-0 lead with just over half an hour to play.
Finally getting his side off the mark in the 52nd minute was Siave Seti after a dominant maul from Uni would take his side from the 22 metre mark to just 5 metres out giving Seti a golden opportunity for his sides opening try.
Seemingly taking the wind out of Wests sails, following the Owls' opening try the visitors would further collapse as Austin Anderson would get yellow carded in the 53rd minute, swinging momentum to the Owls. This momentum would be snuffed out soon after however, as Rhys Van Nek would collect his Brumbies teammate Declan Meredith high forcing the Owls prop to also receive his second yellow card.
Getting back on track through a lovely short-ball from skipper Declan Meredith to fullback Cullen Gray who would score under the posts, making for an easy conversion for the set-up man Meredith, taking the Lions to a 43-7 lead.
In the 68th minute, the man on the right wing Bikaca would show he wasn't yet finished nabbing his fourth try after rolling over another attempted one-on-one tackle before planting down the ball in the corner.
In the 74th minute, Uni's Cameron Johns would do his best to make the score-line more respectable after nabbing his sides second try. Converted by Toa the score would be taken to 48-14.
Soon after, counteracting the Owls latest effort was Kalolo with a very well deserved try after a strong performance from the Wests centre. Scoring with two minutes remaining on the clock after strong runs and slick handoffs from both Declan Meredith and Cullen Gray.
It was the Owls who would get the final amendment on the scoreboard however as Cameron Johns would bring up his second try in the 82nd minute after pouncing on a loose ball and edging it over the try-line in the left corner. Converted once again by Toa, the final whistle would sound with a 53-21 win to Wests.
Wests Lions 53 (Tries: Timoci Naivaluwaqa, Declan Meredith, Tomasi Bikaca 4, Austin Anderson, Cullen Gray, Oryaan Kalolo; Conversions: Declan Meredith 4) def. Uni-Norths 21 (Tries: Siave Seti, Cameron Johns 2; Conversions: Samuel Toa 2)
