Brumbies Provincial Tournament – Match One: MONARO v SOUTHCOAST.

The Monaro Rugby side started the Brumbies Provincial tournament with a 21-all draw with the South Coast, only equalizing in the final minute.

The South Coasts big men paved the way for the Marlins first try with repeat phases building to that most beautiful of rugby sights, a prop forward try in the 11^th minute.

But Monaro, who still lack a catchy nickname like the Marlins… maybe the Monaro Sheepdogs? I’m going to say Sheepdogs for now… restarted from half-way but a South Coast knock-on gave Monaro a scrum feed ten metres out. From the scrum, scrum renowned Goulburn reptile wrangler Alec Palmer crossed for his first try and scores were level.

The Sheepdogs mustered themselves (see what I did there) for a second try a minute before halftime with Goulburn’s Harry Newby initially stripping the ball from a Marlins player before breaking the line several phases later and offloading to Jindabyne scrum-half Andrew Smith for a 14-7 lead going into the break.

But that lead was to be short lived. Four minutes back on deck and the Marlins equalized, 14-14.

The Marlins regained the lead 11 minutes into the second half with another converted try and as the minutes slipped by, looked likely to hold on for a 21-14 win.

In the final five minutes Monaro peppered the South Coast line but there was just 20 seconds left on the clock when Abe Kara fed Palmer an inside pass that the big game hunter planted for the try.

ADFA centre Fraser Baird converted all three of Monaro’s tries.

Monaro is scheduled to play Southern Inland next at 3.40 pm. All matches in the tournament are 50 minutes duration.

Monaro 21 (Alec Palmer 2, Andrew Smith tries, Fraser Baird 3 conversions) drew with South Coast Marlins 21 (Ash Kenny 2, Isaac Heslop tries, John Steele 3 conversions).