Yuku free message boards

NSW City-Country match

John Sutton scored the first try for City

County and City finished level at 22-22 after an absorbing ARL Origin clash at WIN Stadium on Friday night.

John Sutton put City ahead with his 13th-minute try but Country hit back through Amos Roberts, Anthony Laffranchi and Ben Harris to go in ten points to the good at the interval.

City turned the game on its head after shortly after the break through tries from Brett Delaney and Jarryd Hayne before reclaiming the lead through Ben Pomeroy's 65th-minute touchdown.

Country appeared spent but they deservedly salvaged a draw when Craig Fitzgibbon converted Todd Carney's terrific try with just under eight minutes to go.

The game itself was something of a mini-classic and the early exchanges, which were fiercely contested, with both sides defending resolutely, set the tone for what was to follow.

Indeed, with so many excellent attackers on show, it was only a matter of time before the tries started coming and the game exploded into life with two tries in the space of five minutes towards the end of the first quarter.

It was City who opened the scoring, with Sutton, utilising a terrific line, taking a nicely-timed pass from Braith Anasta before barging his way through to score.

Brett Hodgson added the extra points in assured fashion and it was very much advantage City.

However, Country, crucially, posted an almost immediate reply, with the ever-alert Roberts grounding the ball in the right corner after getting his hands on a clever grubber into the corner from the impressive Brett Finch.

Video replays showed that City winger Luke Rooney had also gotten his hands on the ball but the benefit of the doubt quite rightly went with the attacking side and the score stood.

Fitzgibbon's subsequent conversion attempt was well struck but it drifted to the left at the last second and struck a post.

However, while that meant that City still led, the momentum was now very much with Country and they deservedly moved in front when Laffranchi, from a standing start, powered through Mark Minichello and Luke Lewis and then steamrolled Hodgson to score a superb solo try.

Fitzgibbon had no problems with the conversion attempt this time around and Country led by four.

Just under ten minutes later their advantage had entered double figures, with Harris taking advantage of a rather fortuitious bounce of the ball to nip in for a converted try.

Finch's booming up-and-under was the cause of all the trouble from City's perspective, the ball striking the upright before falling back into the path of Glenn Stewart.

The replacement gathered and then attempted to find the supporting Andrew Ryan a pass off the floor. It struck Anasta instead but squirmed backwards into the path of the waiting Harris, who was left with a simple finish.

City were rocking and only a fantastic challenge from Hodgson on Ryan prevented another Country try before the interval, while Finch saw a drop goal attempt come back off the bar.

Trailing by ten points at the interval, City began the second half in dire need of a score - and they got one.

After moving the Country defence around superbly, City spread the ball wide, and to devastating effect, with Lewis putting Delaney over in the right corner.

Hodgson failed to add the extras but City were back in the game.

Indeed, with the outcome of the game now back in the balance, the intensity levels went through the roof and the third quarter made for gripping viewing.

Fitzgibbon had a chance to put more than one score between the sides in the 58th minute but his penalty attempt sailed wide of the right post.

The prop was punished for his profligacy because, just over 60 seconds later, City were level.

They did that through a fine converted try, Hayne rising majestically to collect Mitchell Pearce's inviting cross-field kick, before grounding the ball in the corner.

Hodgson converted brilliantly from just inches in from the right-touchline to set up a fascinating final quarter.

Country went on the attack, trying to reclaim the initiative, but City were now rampant and, in the 65th minute, Pomeroy raced 70 metres to score after Todd Carney had seen his attempted chip forward blocked by Feleti Mateo.

Hodgson nailed yet another difficult conversion attempt to put six points between the sides and it appeared as if City would see the game out.

Country rallied superbly, though, and Carney, who was at fault for Pomeroy's try, made amends for that mistaken when he touched down after a scintillating run which saw him leave Hodgson on his backside with a clever step.

Fitzgibbon's subsequent conversion levelled matters and that's the way it stayed because Anasta, Finch, Carney - spectacularly from half-way - and Pearce were all off-target with late drop goal attempts. In the end, though, a draw was the right result.