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The silky skills of NSW Waratahs backs Sam Norton-Knight and Kurtley Beale backed by some tough defence have paved the way for a 17-5 win over Queensland in the Super 14 sides’ opening trial match.
The Waratahs locked up the game with three tries before thunderstorms that had threatened all night finally arrived to drench the enthusiastic Toowoomba crowd of 3,530.
The match opened brightly with both sides showing they will look to attack under the ELVs in 2009 and Beale put newly-signed winger Peter Playford through a gap for the first of his two tries.
Then it was Norton-Knight’s turn, putting on a “show and go” to create a break before putting Playford in the clear.
With the Waratahs ahead 12-0 after Beale’s conversion of the second try, a yellow card for the Reds’ hard tackling flyhalf Anthony Faingaa for an alleged shoulder charge forced the home side to work harder on a humid evening.
A try by replacement Dave Dennis stretched the Waratahs’ lead to 17-0 as the downpour arrived.
Reds replacement scrumhalf Will Genia grabbed a late try for his side after neat work by outside centre Brando Va’aulu.
Reds league convert Mark McLinden was given plenty to do at fullback by the testing kicks of Norton-Knight and Beale, but gained a pass mark from coach Phil Mooney for his efforts.
McLinden came off with a slight head knock after being hit by the Waratahs forward pack as he tried to gather a ball at the tackle but was happy with his first game of professional rugby.
“That was good. I enjoyed it. I made a couple of errors but overall I was pretty happy,” McLinden said.
NSW Waratahs 17 (Peter Playford 2, Dave Dennis try, Kurtley Beale con) bt Queensland Reds 5 (Will Genia try) at Gold Park, Toowoomba. Crowd 3,530.
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