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Match Result: Queensland Country have kept their finals hopes alive with a 24-16 win over the NSW Country Eagles in Newcastle.
In wet and windy conditions the QLD Country used a strong breeze in the second half to score the last two tries of the match to win.
Despite dominating possession, and running for more metres, the NSW Country Eagles failed to put it on the scoreboard in the first half and paid the ultimate price.
They also struggled to control the QLD Country scrum, with the opposition winning plenty of penalties.
Early on, despite having the wind, the Eagles conceded the first try to QLD Country with Maclean Jones scoring in the 11th minute.
A tap back, after a high kick, created the chance for Jones to score.
For the rest of the half, it was dominated by the Eagles, who used the wind to attack.
They would score two tries, to David Feao and Mitch Short, and lead 16-8 at half time.
It didn’t look enough, with all their possession, and control of the game.
This proved to be the case as Queensland Country utilised the wind effectively.
They kicked on every opportunity and tried to create mistakes from the Eagles with the weather.
On the other hand, with the wind disadvantage, the Eagles tried to attack with phases and their run.
As the second half went on the QLD Country wore down the Eagles and got opportunities to score.
In the 48th minute, they leveled, with a penalty try after a scrum five metres out.
Mistakes then creeped into the game of both teams, as plenty of errors were made.
By the 70th minute, the referee had enough, and sent Eagle Dane Marakai off after too many penalties in the scrum.
Queensland took the advantage, attacked with multiple scrums, and scored the match winning try.
Taniele Tupou, who had just came back on, scored his 3rd try in 3 games to seal the win with a bustling charge to the line.
The QLD Country now move to 5th with the win, moving past the Eagles, who slip to 6th.
Their finals chances are still alive.
They now have a week off with the Eagles travelling to Perth to take on the Spirit.
Match Preview: After big losses last week the NSW Country Eagles and Queensland Country will be looking to bounce back this week when they face each other at Newcastle Sportsground. Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from 7:30pm AEST.
Last week was disappointing for both teams as they conceded more than 60 points in their big losses.
At home the Queensland Country lost to the Perth Spirit 64-34 in Rockhampton. Away from home, at Ballymore, the NSW Country Eagles were defeated by Brisbane City 61-29.
With both teams outside of the top four, and less than half of the regular season to go, time is running out if both want to make the finals this year.
In the case of Queensland Country, who have just three matches left, a loss today could end their chances of making the finals.
Wins by Melbourne and Sydney, and no bonus points in a loss by Queensland, would eliminate them from the top four hunt this weekend.
Whilst the Eagles are closer – currently fifth on eight points – they also need a win to remain in the hunt.
Both teams have made plenty of changes, as expected, after their losses last week. For the Country Eagles Beau Robinson will make his debut with the former Queensland Red named at flanker.
He is joined by Tom Staniforth, Andrew Kellaway, Ed Stubbs, and Charlie Clifton who also come into the team.
For the Queensland Country they have a new centre pairing with Tyrone Lefau and Lagi Setu in after impressing off the bench last week. Setu is a former NRL player who represented St George, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters in 73 appearances.
Other changes include Dion Taumata at flyhalf with Taniela Tupou and Alex Mafi to start at tight head prop and hooker respectively. Finally Sef Fa’agase moves to loose-head prop with Phil Potgieter and MacLean Jones starting in the second row and back row respectively.
These two teams faced each other once last year with the Eagles winning 37-13. Kellaway, who is back this week, scored a hat trick in the comfortable win.
I predict them to record a similar victory with the form the Queensland Country is in.
They have won just one of their last four matches, losing the three contests by an average of 20 points.
With them also conceding plenty of points, I expect the Eagles to have no problems scoring enough points to win.
Prediction: Eagles by 13
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