AIG MCAAs open Tour with win against Darling Downs
TOOWOOMBA, Queensland – The AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans secured their first victory of the Tour to Queensland sponsored by WellDog Saturday, a 31-17 defeat of a Darling Downs representative side at Gold Park.
Mason Pedersen put the MCAAs on the board following two tries from Darling Downs in the opening 10 minutes. Capped Eagle Deion Mikesell dotted down to level the score – and added a yellow card at the end of the first frame – with the age-grade national team playing a free-flowing attack similar to that of the senior side. Half backs Nick Boyer and Conor Kearns ran the show more than effectively; the fly half set up a Tua Laei try late in the first half with a cross-field kick to extend the team’s lead to 24-12, an advantage it into halftime.
The MCAAs enjoyed the majority of possession in the match, and would have had a larger margin of victory had turnovers and costly errors not caused several try-scoring opportunities to go begging. The coaching staff, led by Gavin Hickie, will highlight that fact in the review session prior to the team’s next match against Brothers Rugby Football Club Wednesday, Aug. 9.
The replay of Saturday’s match will be made available on the Tour Facebook page.
AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans | v. Darling Downs Select Side
1. Chance Wenglewski
2. Chad Gough
3. Mason Pedersen
4. Malon Al-Jiboori
5. Matt Jensen
6. Wes Hartmann
7. Aladdin Schirmer (C)
8. Vili Helu
9. Nick Boyer
10. Conor Kearns
11. Deion Mikesell
12. Cody Melphy
13. Bryce Campbell
14. Vetekina Malafu
15. Tua Laei
AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans | 31
Tries: Pederson, Mikesell, Helu, Laei, Whiting
Conversions: Kearns, Audsley
Darling Downs Select Side | v. AIG MCAAs
1. Jack Cook
2. Sam Hogarth
3. Brett Corish
4. Sonny Power (C)
5. Sam Tweedy
6. Lachlan Tulloch
7. John Vinson
8. Tom Simpson
9. Will Gilbert
10. Andrew Turner
11. Zac Boland
12. Harry Hawker
13. Cameron Griffin
14. Nick Poole
15. Mic Jamieson
Darling Downs Select Side | Reserves
16. Brett Huth
17. Baci Wilson
18. Matt Roberts
19. Robert Patterson
20. Luke Johnston
21. John Moloney
22. Steve McVeigh
23. Eric Donaldson
24. Paul Maguire
25. Dan Ostwald
AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans | Tour to Queensland sponsored by WellDog
v. Darling Downs Select Side – W 31-17
v. Brothers Rugby Football Club – Wednesday, Aug. 10 @ 4 a.m. ET
v. Queensland Premier Barbarians – Saturday, Aug. 13 @ 5:30 a.m. ET
