Last-Second Kick Downs All Americans

The Collegiate All Americans were beaten 36-34 by Brothers RFC Wednesday in Brisbane, QLD in the second game of the AAs' three-game tour.

The game came down to a very harsh penalty against the tourists - an attempted interception was ruled an intentional knock-on by referee Rohan Hoffman, and the ensuing kick won it for Brothers.

The game itself started off very much like the previous game. Errors of cohesion and plays of opportunity allowed the hosts to score a couple of early tries. The first came off a break by Brothers that was stopped, but only until the forwards punched it over. The All Americans came back with some good work from the front row of Mason Pedersen, Alex Vorster, and Alex Maughan, and that led to a penalty that Dylan Audsley put over. Moments later a longer-range effort from Audsley made it 7-6.

Niall Barry got things moving from the back and set up Calvin Whiting, only to see the BYU center get taken out with a high tackle. The All Americans took the lineout deep within Brothers territory, and won possession, but couldn't hold onto the ball and gave Brothers a breather.

Then a little later, from a lineout in the middle of the field, the All Americans won the ball and got set to run a play. But scrumhalf Roland Blackiston's pass was intercepted by the Brothers flanker at the back of the lineout, and in he went untouched to make it 14-6.  Brothers worked a nice move from a scrum to make it 19-6, and the hosts seemed in control.

But the second half run of play favored the tourists, as a few changes were made and the subs brought a little better execution to the game. Usiing Malon Al-Jiboori to test the defense, the All Americans ran weak and Nick Boyer set up Cody Melphy for a nice Lindenwood-to-Cal-to-Life move and a try. Audsley hit the touchline kick to make it 19-13. Back came Brothers with a try, but then the All Americans took control.

Alec Barton's surging run led to a break by Matt Jenson. The BYU lock was not to be denied and galloped in under the posts. Then good running from Melphy and Aladdin Schirmer got the All Americans to the tryline, where Jensen picked up and dove over for his second. Then Schirmer scored one himself, making the run, and getting the return pass to race over for an entertaining score and a 34-26 lead with Audsley's conversions.

Brothers came right back to score and make it 34-33. There then followed a series of crucial plays. In one, Deion Mikesell looked clear to go in from long range, but the pass to him was behind and into touch. That could have put the game away. In the other, Brothers looked away in under the posts before a superb tackle from Barry stopped the run and forced a penalty that relieved pressure.

But in the end, it wasn't to be. With time basically up, Brothers was on the attack and an All American player tried to intercept a pass. It was obvious he was trying to catch the ball, but the referee called an intentional knock-on in front of the posts, and the kick finished off the game 36-34.

It was an up-and-down performance by the All Americans. With a different starting lineup from the previous game, they seemed to have even more trouble playing together. Several promising backline plays fell to pieces because the timing was off - a couple of those led to Brothers tries. Physically the Americans held strong, but tactically, when they led 34-26 they should have kicked for territory more and pinned the tiring Brothers team back in their end.

All Americans 34

Tries: Melphy, Jensen 2, Schirmer

Convs: Audsley 4

Pens: Audsley 2

Brothers 36