Melbourne Rising vs Sydney Rams: NRC live scores

Fair point Celtic. No public transport in the sense that the best professional stadiums have, where there is a station that serves the sports ground. But yes, there is a train station nearby, although I'd venture to say that very few, if any, of the people who went to the game went there by train.

What are you talking about "no public transport". There is a train station probably less than 5 min walk away. Agree on the rest of the comments. Personally i'd like them to take a game to different clubs, so we can get some good community supprt. Box Hill, Melb Uni, Unicorns are all capable of holding the Rising.

Both you guys are right, it's a poor surface for high level rugby. There's no turf worm, it's just gets a lot of use and it never really recovers once it gets the first heavy rain. Even the non-sandy areas are uneven and not up to standard. Credit to the players for getting on with the job regardless. Parking/access is also an issue and there is no public transport. And another thing, even if there were bigger crowds attracted, the sight lines are poor - essentially it's a club ground, not built for a national competition. The Rising's next home game is at Frankston Oval, which is a far better surface, but a long way out of town. It's been gone over a thousand times but there aren't really other suitable alternatives. AAMI is too big/expensive and other potentially well located grounds are too small.

Daveski, dead right there. Reminds me lots of the club ground for the Mighty Southern Districts down in the Shire, which also sometimes looks like an overgrazed paddock. I can only guess the Harlequins ground must have had a lot of club rugby or some other games on the Saturday or maybe school carnival late in the week, there was barely a blade of grass in the middle. Plus of course, suburban and country town fields don't have the drainage systems and plethora of groundsmen that big stadia have. From a tv armchair aspect, its always a bad look when you are televising from a small ground. The cameras must be facing away from the sun and looking into seats with no-one there, as who wants to sit down with sun in the eyes all afternoon? Some grounds don't even have a stand on that side, so as you say it looks like a game on a cow paddock.

Thanks Geoff, wow that was quite a finish, 4 tries, all by wingers, in the last 8 minutes. A scrappy game that kept up the interest thanks to the Rams comeback in the 2nd half. I love the NRC, with some better promotion it could attract so many more butts on seats and viewers. I just wish to hell that Foxtel didn't hide 2 matches on their stream which I cannot access. In fact the whole promotion of the NRC is terrible. The SMH barely gives it a mention, folks tell me its not much better on the NewsCorpse papers and FTA tv barely mentions it. In fact the only place on FTA I have seen the NRC mentioned was SBS news last night (only because of Fiji presence).

Has the dreaded AAMI turf worm been there ? I mean that sandy centre just looked pretty dreadful. On tv coupled with the wind, rain and fairly basic grandstand it all looked a bit "cow-country". Don't mean to belittle the Harlequins. Great topsy turvy game, some exciting young backs in that Rebels team. The mighty Macs and I think that Tupou I read somewhere was the youngest player at the recent U20 RWC?

My blue, Taqele Naiyaravoro scored a double, Wessells was the other winger. Too much ale in the Sydney Spring. A 6 try to 5 try victory to the folks from Antarctica, I mean Melbourne Rising. I doubt if either of these teams will be there at the pointy end of the competition. The Ram's forwards just lacked a bit of class and the two Rams centres couldn't handle the pace and size of the two Rising boys, Sione Tuipulotu and Sefa Naivalu. I personally think NSW should only field 2 teams in the NRC. The talent is spread too thin and really shows when against "one-city" teams such as Perth, Melbourne and Canberra. That would bring it back to an eight team competition so there would be no byes, even better.

Full time, Rising 41, Rams 31 Closing fast at 29-24 the Rams looked like they were going to ruin the Rising's prospect of claiming their first win this season, but a late explosion of action saw the Rising home by 41-31. Both wingers, Tupou and Ratu claimed a double, showing electric pace in the process. Rams winger Naiyarovoro also scored twice, after coming into the game more in the 2nd half. A scrappy match at times, punctuated by a strong, blustery cross wind. But also lots of good rugby and try action. Of the other big names, Naivalu was mostly quiet until exploding through a gap to set up the crucial score. Holloway for the Rams was prominent throughout.

72 mins. After sustained pressure on the Melb line and some sloppy passing along the backline, big T. Naiyaravoro goes over for a try in the corner. Unconverted so its Rising 29-Rams 24. And as I type, Rising put in the clincher with a try under the posts. A nice move along the backs from 50m out to set up the #14 Kitione Ratu for his 2nd try. I think it was the IC, Sione Tuipulotu who made the break. That's 36-24 and good night nurse! for the Rams. Oh wowsers, 78th minute and these Rising wingers do it in pairs. The other winger, an 18yo kid called Semisi Tupou follows a nice kick over the Rams defence and bags his 2nd try also. And just to show Melbourne wingers are not the Pat Malone, in the 80th minute the tank named Taqele Naiyaravoro scores another try in the corner for the Rams. Is that a treble for TN? The final scoreline is now 41-31, a bit flattering to the Rising but either way its a Rising Win.

At the beginning of the NRC comp, I tipped Perth Spirit to play against Queensland Country in the final. This was purely on team rosters and my gut feeling of team harmony. Of course the Fiji Drua are looking like they are a massive chance to go all the way, am amazed just how quickly their forwards have gelled into a destructive pack. I just saw the result of Qld Country vs Sydney Rays, it was a 50-24 (8 tries to 3) flogging with their young captain Duncan Paia’aua getting a hat-trick of tries. DP plays mainly #12 for both the Reds and Qld C but his pedigree is as a 5/8. Any comments from the Roar folks as to where he sits on the WB radar? We seem to have potential #12s bursting out of the woodwork but the 5/8 cupboard is very bare. 65mins: Rising now lead 29-19 thanks to a penalty for a high shot. Now the #10 for Rising (Jack McGregor) is clutching his arm after tackling big T. Naiyaravoro. I don't blame him there.

Hi TF. Big turnaround here, a Hugh Roach inspired comeback and the penalty count evening up has seen the Rams score 3 second half tries 55m Rising 26, Rams 19

51 mins: Rising killed a try there, bloke at the edge hogs the ball with his winger backing up and in clear space. The hog drops the ball as he is tackled, the Rams #6 Kotoni Ale picks up and runs 45m for a nice try in the corner. Rising now lead 26-12. 54mins: And now Hugh Roach shows his sidestep prowess, get to within 5m of the tryline. A quick ruck and the great Waldo Wessells goes between the posts. Not sure who Wessells has replaced. Rising now lead 26-19 and perhaps looking a mite nervous.

43mins. Taqele Naiyaravoro gets a meat pie. TN should be doing way more of that, send his massive frame at full pelt to the edge of the rucks. I would hate to be a half or even an openside with that giant coming at me. LoL Melb Rising have a big wind at their back for the 2nd half so you know they are just going to kick to the sidelines and keep the Rams deep in their half. They have no choice now as behind 26-7.

G'day Geoff, after watching the Fiji Drua moider them Perthians yesterday, we are getting a repeat flogging here. Shows you at how good I am at tipping, I took Perth and the Rams to win their matches. LoL I know everyone loves Jed Hollaway and he does look great when bursting through the line with the ball, but I have a problem that I rarely see him seriously contesting breakdowns or up tight in defence. I watched him play a fair bit of SR over the years and that's my impression. Admittedly he may be ginger from his hamstring which has given him grief all year. Any comments along those lines? Am I a blind tool or do you sorta agree? :)

Halftime. Rising 26, Rams 0 Two tries to wingers Tupou and Ratu within a minute, plus superb kicking into a strong wind by McGregor has blown the score out at halftime. Rams conceding way too many penalties, unable to build cohesion. Rising look composed and determined to notch their first win. Tuipolotu having a strong game at centre, also Leota at No.8, finally recovered from a 12 mth injury.

Looks like Simon's prediction of a Rising victory could be right. 28 minutes, leading 12-0 and a referee from Perth who seemingly hates them folks from NSW (penalties about 10-1 to Rising) or the way they conduct their rucks. Already Rams have had one bloke in the bin. Not only do we have the monster truck Taqele Naiyaravoro at 135kg but the Rising have a very tall lock Emmanuel Latu-Meafou, who commentators say is 145kg. 32 min: Another Rising try as the left winger winger Semisi Tupou runs right through the edge of a ruck and runs about 45m for a try. 19-0 now 34 mins: Sydney Rams are being slaughtered, now the other winger, Kitione Ratu, comes over and runs a lovely 55m try on the left side. Converted from sideline and now 26-0.

28m Rising 12, Rams 0 Rams getting hammered in the penalty count. Very strong cross winds making things difficult for both sides.

You mean prime Melbourne Real estate Daveski?

What is that $hit-heap of a field they are playing on?