McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City lose to Sydney Rays at Ballymore Stadium
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Loading...McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City has suffered a disappointing defeat at home, falling 38-32 to the Sydney Rays on Sunday afternoon.
City trailed 24-12 at half time, but came home strong with three second half tries to almost steal the win.
City’s tries were scored by Moses Sorovi, Jake McIntyre, Lukhan Tui, Criff Tupou, Brad Lacey. McIntyre also kicked one conversion. The Rays tries were scored by Irae Simone (2), Jack Dempsey, Josh Turner and Chris Alcock.
City head coach Rod Seib said his side was bitterly disappointed: “It’s a tough one for us to take, because we worked hard to create scoring opportunities and were rewarded with five tries, but we also gave away five tries and if we’re honest, some of those were pretty soft. It stings to know we gifted them that one.
“We’ve got two games left in the season to show what we’re capable of. We need to put together an 80-minute performance. We’ve looked strong in patches, but haven’t put it together for a full match.”
City opened the scoring in the ninth minute when scrumhalf Moses Sorovi backed up a Brad Lacey line break and galloped away for the try.
City had another chance to score 10 minutes later, with an attacking lineout five metres from the Rays’ line, but they couldn’t secure the ball and the visitors ran it 60 metres before City winger Alex Gibbon dragged his opposite into touch.
City lost the ensuing lineout and the Rays were again on the attack, with centre Simone breaking the line and scoring his side’s first try. Lucas added the conversion and the Rays led 8-6.
The home side looked strong with ball in hand and regained the lead in the 28th minute, taking advantage of an attacking lineout inside the Rays’ 22-metre line.
A strong midfield carry from centre Toby White set the team up well and created the space for McIntyre to stroll over out wide. The flyhalf missed the conversion, but City lead 12-8.
The Rays had all the momentum in the back end of the half, with Simone adding a second try to his tally and young flanker Dempsey making a hole to force his way over late just before half time. Lucas kicked both conversions and the Rays led 24-12 at half time.
City closed the gap early in the second half, with towering lock Tui barging his way over from the back of a five-metre maul.
The home side trailed 24-20, but let themselves down by conceding points almost immediately, with Rays winger Turner finishing off a 60-metre backline move off the back of a scrum to extend his side’s lead to 30-20.
The home side again closed the gap in the 65th minute, with a brilliant try to fullback Lacey, who chased scrumhalf Sorovi’s box kick 40 metres down field and dived on the loose ball in the in goal to bring the score to 30-26.
Again City conceded the next points, with replacement flanker Alcock crashing over from short range of a Rays’ lineout to take his team to a 38-26 lead.
City looked as if they may be able to chase down the lead, with replacement flanker Tupou scoring his side’s fifth try in latter stages of the game, but the score remained 38-32 as the Rays secured second place on the competition standings.
City head to Perth next Sunday to play the Spirit, before returning home for the much-anticipated local derby against Bond University Queensland Country for the Andy Purcell Cup on Sunday 9 October.
McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City 32 (Moses Sorovi, Jake McIntyre, Lukhan Tui, Criff Tupou, Brad Lacey tries; McIntyre 1 conversion) defeated by Sydney Rays 38 (Irae Simone 2, Jack Dempsey, Josh Turner, Chris Alcock tries; Matt Lucas 3, Angus Sinclair 1 conversions) at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday 25 September 2016.
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