NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE 3/9/ 2017

There was plenty to excitement for spectators in Round One of the National Rugby Championship this weekend. The season kicked off with an 88-point showdown on Saturday with Canberra Vikings prevailing 48-40 over Bond University Queensland Country at Viking Park in Canberra. Country held a 14-point lead in the second half, before Vikings piled on 22 points in the final 20 minutes to lock in the win. In the second Saturday match, McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City were cruising 40-12 with 20 minutes to play before Fiji gave the home side a scare scoring four late tries before falling 45-36. Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi were the stars the crowd at Ballymore came to see, but it was winger Ed Fidow who provided the headline act with a hat-trick of tries. Today the Greater Sydney Rams cruised to a 44-23 win over the Elders NSW Country Eagles. Mack Mason put on a masterclass for the home side at TG Millner Oval, while his opposite Tayler Adams bagged a double for the Eagles. Later today Road Safety Perth Spirit put on a brilliant display of running Rugby beating a resilient Rising side 45-33. A huge Perth crowd filled the McGillivray Oval and were treated to some breathtaking tries from both teams.

2017 Standings after Round One Greater Sydney Rams 5 Road Safety Perth Spirit 5 McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City 5 Canberra Vikings 5 Bond University Queensland Country 1 Fiji Airways Drua 1 Melbourne Rising 1 Sydney Rays 0 Elders NSW Country Eagles 0 Saturday 2 September Canberra Vikings v Bond University Queensland Country; Viking Park, Canberra CANBERRA VIKINGS 48 (Tries: Robinson, Banks, Muirhead, Abel, Hyne, Powell, Penders; Cons: Hawera 4; Pen: Hawera) QUEENSLAND COUNTRY 40 (Tries: Paia’aua 2, Timu, Tuttle, Scott-Young, Faagase; Cons: Tuttle 4) Saturday 2 September McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City v Fiji Airways Drua, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane BRISBANE 45 (Tries: Ready, Fidow 3, Tui, Gunn, Kerevi; Cons: Cooper 4, Alatimu) FIJI DRUA 36 (Tries: Nacebe 2, Voka, Sau, Cavuilati, Reece; Cons: Douglas 2, Nacebe; Yellow Cards: Mudu, Tawake) Sunday 3 September Greater Sydney Rams vs Elders NSW Country Eagles, TG Millner Oval, Sydney GREATER SYDNEY RAMS 44 (Tries: Grant, Ale, Pili-Gaitau, Tuisue, Naiyaravoro, Fuavao; Cons: Mason 4; Pens: Mason 2) NSW COUNTRY EAGLES 23 (Tries Adams 2, Kagiassis; Cons: Adams; Pens: Adams 2) Sunday 3 September Road Safety Perth Spirit vs Melbourne Rising, McGillivray, Perth PERTH SPIRIT 45 (Tries: Naisarani, Faulkner 2, Cowan, Peni, Brache, Verity-Amm; Cons: Lance 5; Yellow cards: Peni (29')) MELBOURNE RISING 33 (Tries: Tuipulotu, Koroibete 2, McGregor, Maddocks; Cons: McGregor 4) ROUND 2 FIXTURES Saturday 9 September; 1:00PM – Queensland Country v Brisbane City, Noosa, Queensland Saturday 9 September; 3:00PM – Melbourne Rising v Fiji Drua, Harlequins, Melbourne Sunday 10 September; 1:00PM – Canberra Vikings v Perth Spirit, Viking Park, Canberra Sunday 10 September; 3:00PM – Sydney Rays v Greater Sydney Rams, Macquarie Uni, Sydney