Presidents Cup Round 2 – UKAF Victorious over Teachers

Full match footage can be found at this link,
https://www.youtube.com/live/915vb0xprRM?app=desktop&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3uBPJzsHaAhq8ZGgZMB3tTCzcGiLDV-o58Khw25GkTUzpxu7adX02k5AI
However, if you have not the time to watch the whole match the scores are all noted with timings alongside, please note it is footage timing and not match timing

Opening the evening was the Universities v Police clash which saw the Unis take the game 27:20 after a great fight back by the Police side pushing the Students to the final whistle.

Coach Garry Dunn’s AF side featured 10 RNRL players with more debuts on the night, all 10 contributed to the game and perhaps inevitably RNRL players scored 32 of the 40 points scored on the night.
The opening exchanges of the match went to the tough physical GBT side who opened the scoring with a try for Prop Aaron Hall forcing his way over to the left of the posts, conversion was made by Rob Marsh, 0:6 (14m). Despite more pressure by the GBT the score remained at 0:6 for another 15 minutes before AF opened their account taking advantage of the GBT being a man down with Prop Hall being yellow carded. The AF score was made by James Tilley, from a play the ball under the posts he headed for the line before slipping a one-handed pass to 2nd Row Brodie Butler who scored the try (34m). A Matty Gaskell conversion tied up the scores at 6:6. Barely six minutes later UKAF were in again and in almost an identical score as the first, Tilley once again took the ball on moving out to the RN left finding Butler with a more orthodox pass and the 2nd row took the ball on from 15 out twisting himself over the line through the GBT defence (40m), 10:6. Another strong surge by the AF saw Charlie Mattison held up just short of the line but James Tilley once again at dummy half forced his way over from close range to extend the AF lead (47m). A straightforward conversion for Gaskell stretched the AF lead to 16:6. As the game moved towards half time the GBT put more pressure on the AF defence resulting in a clearing kick from Tilley deep in his own half. The ball bounced kindly for AF and centre, Jeeti Vakalabure, took the ball to beat the GBT cover for another try (51m) to stretch his sides lead to 20:6 and that was the half!

Despite the halftime score the GBT were not out of it and proved this with a well taken try by loose forward Jack Walton who crossed near the posts to give Marsh another straightforward 2 pointer 20:12 (1h 6m). UKAF were on the board again barely 2 minutes later, a clearing kick by the GBT was gathered by full back Semisi Naqelevuki on the AF 10 metre line to feed Kini Dakuliga who then set off on a mazey sprint beating 4 would be tacklers racing a good 80 metres to score to the right of the posts (1.8.30), 26:12 minutes. Once again, the GBT gathered themselves and exerted a lot of pressure on the AF line and their persistence paid off, a good move out to their left found sub Daniel Douglas who finished well by the touchline (1.22m), Rob Marsh putting over an excellent conversion to close the scores to 24:16. AF had to deal with more pressure over the next 15 minutes as the GBT strove to get the next score but it was another long range effort by UKAF that perhaps was the crucial score. Kieran Prescott took a clearing kick from the GBT on his own 40 metre line and after heading out wide cut back into midfield straight through the tiring GBT defence to score left of the sticks (1.37.30), another Gaskell conversion stretched the AF lead to 30:16. As the game moved towards full time a penalty to UKAF on half way found them in a good attacking position 20 metres out, the ball came across left to right finding James Teixeira who took on and beat the GBT defence for the 4 pointer (1.41.30) the score now 34:16. It got worse for the GBT as they were then reduced again to 12 men after Hall was red carded for dissent. Time for one more UKAF score and another one for the backs, Brodie Butler initially gathered a loose ball feeding Vakalabure who made good yards to the halfway line, Rhys Joel took the ball at dummy half passing to winger Danny Dainty who sprinted through the GBT defence the 50 or so metres to the line touching down under the posts (1.46.15), Rhys Joel put over the conversion to make the score 40:16. That was to be it on the night, the referee blowing the final whistle straight after the conversion.

A great win for UKAF who now go on to face the England Universities in the final and deciding round of this years Presidents Cup series on the 24th May at Orrell St James ARLFC.