Qld Premier XV convincing winners over Auckland
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A Queensland Premier XV scored a comprehensive 42-0 win over an Auckland selection in a trial match on the Sunshine Coast.
The Queensland side, made up of a mix of contracted QR Reds players and players from the Trinity Premier Rugby competition, scored six converted tries in the win, played in wet and slippery conditions.
They led 28-0 at halftime and never let Auckland get settled.
The Auckland side has been in camp on the Sunshine Coast preparing for the National Provincial Championship.
Sunnybank scrumhalf Sean Armstrong grabbed two first half tries, while young Easts fullback Aiden Toua turned in an eye-catching performance with a quick stepping run through the heart of the Auckland defence.
Queensland Coach Damon Emtage was full of admiration for the way the players from different teams had approached the challenge of combining at short notice.
"The boys' preparation has been incredible. They're probably the best bunch we've ever had," Emtage said.
"Today they were challenged to see what type of competitor they were. The true test of a competitor is the unknown. The unknown today was us, it was them (Auckland) and they had the courage to have a crack and that (the result) was beyond our wildest dreams."
Emtage said the team had been selected after extended and careful scrutiny of player form every week during the Trinity Premier Rugby competition.
"What got them (the players) into this team was club form and I think everyone would agree that what players have demonstrated in Premier Rugby week-in and week-out, they demonstrated tonight."
Auckland coach Pat Lam was philosophical about the result, which he said showed his young squad of players what challenges they would face in the NPC.
"It was a good challenge for the guys to show them what's coming. There's a lot of young guys in there (the team) and we wanted to give them a real sense of what's coming.
"The same thing happened to us last year in the pre-season and we really built on that."
Lam said his side's set piece was good but they failed to control the ball in the slippery conditions.
"The game that we play relies on good handling and we just couldn't control the ball."
Queensland Premier XV 42 (Sean Armstrong 2, Charlie Fetoai, James Harvey, Aiden Toua, Andrew Shaw tries, Ben Gollings 4 con, Brendan McKibbin 2 con) def Auckland NPC 0.
