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Match Result: The Brisbane City have retained the Horan-Little Shield with a 55-29 win over the North Harbour Bays at Ballymore.
In a match of momentum changes, City would score three late tries, to secure the 26 point win and remain at the top of the ladder.
It wasn’t a true reflection of the game with the Rays in it for much of the contest. With 15 minutes to go they reduced the margin to five points after being down by 21 early in the match.
In the early stages, it was all City, as they raced to a 21-0 lead.
A penalty try, for an infringement in the scrum by the Rays, was followed by tries to Liam Gill and Mika Tela.
This gave City a handy margin and the game looked over.
It got worse for the Rays as Dennis Pili-Gaitau was sent to the bin for ten minutes.
North Harbour responded though and scored with a fantastic try to Josh Holmes with one less player.
He would run 60 metres and score to keep the Rays in the match.
At half time the margin remained at 21 points with City leading 26-5.
The Rays were boosted, before half time, with City’s Scott Higginbotham also getting ten in the sin bin.
Two minutes after half time, North Harbour scored, with Alex Northam going over in the corner.
This reduced the deficit to 13 points.
City increased the difference to 18 points, in the 58th minute, before the Rays scored two tries in four minutes.
Tries to Harry Bergelin and Tom Hill made it five points with 15 minutes to go.
This was where the comeback ended with City running in three tries to end the Rays momentum.
The comeback was done despite the sending off of Dennis Pili-Gaitau for a second offence. The Rays had to play without him for almost 30 minutes.
This eventually came to hurt them as City ran away with the match in the final few minutes.
They deserved the win though as their scrum dominated the contest.
Karmichael Hunt played well at fullback with Liam Gill scoring two tries as a flanker.
The City now play NSW Country with the North Harbour Rays having the bye.
Match Preview: The Horan-Little Shield is up for grabs for the first time on television when Brisbane City defend it at home against the North Harbour Rays in the NRC.
After taking the title in Round 2 against the Melbourne Rising, Brisbane City defeated Queensland Country 44-24 last week to retain it.
Now they have to defend it against the North Harbour Rays.
Last week they were unlucky not to win against the Melbourne Rising. Down 40-16, part way through the second half, they levelled before conceding a late try to lose 45-40. It was a spirited effort.
They have made plenty of changes with six players in different positions than last week. Rory O’Connor will make his debut at loose head prop. Ryan Melrose and Harry Bergelin start after being on the bench last week and impressing against the Rising.
Brisbane have made four changes including the move to play Karmichael Hunt at fullback.
Matt Mafi replaces Andrew Ready with Waita Setu coming in for Luke Beauchamp.
Brisbane have been the form team of the competition, with three straight wins.
They will be tough to beat and are full of experience from the Queensland Reds. They have one of the stronger teams in the competition, and have named a very tough team tonight.
North Harbour showed they can match teams with Super Rugby experience, but can they do it away from home? They have plenty of potential, but will need to lift significantly if they are to trouble teams of the quality of Brisbane City.
I don’t think they can and the City will be too strong.
They will win comfortably in a high scoring game.
Prediction – City by 18.
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