The opening round of the 2019 National Rugby Championship has seen defending premiers Fiji Drua tie with Brisbane City. While the Western Force, NSW Country and the Canberra Vikings have all claimed wins in their respective matches.
Round 1:
NSW Country Eagles 38 defeated Sydney 33
NSW Country Eagles
Tries: David Vea 2, Tim Clements, Matthew Sandell, Angus Bell, Jack Grant
Cons: James Kane 4
Sydney
Tries: Lachlan Swinton, William Harrison, Shambeckler Vui, Lalakai Foketi, Christian Poidevin
Cons: William Harrison 4, Ben Donaldson
Melbourne Rising 22 was defeated by Canberra Vikings 47
Melbourne Rising
Tries: Justin Masters, Semisi Tupou, Ross Haylett-Petty
Cons: Michael Maloney 2
Canberra Vikings
Tries: Thomas Wright, Noah Lolesio, Pete Samu, Toni Pulu, Andy Muirhead, Mack Hansen, Irae Simone
Cons: Ryan Lonergan 6
Brisbane City 22 tie with Fijian Drua 22
Brisbane City
Tries: Nicholas Chapman, Sefa Naivalu, Teti Tela, Hunter Paisami
Cons: Isaac Lucas
Fijian Drua
Tries: Peceli Nacebe 2, Joeli Veitayaki
Cons: Seru Vularika 2
Pens: Seru Vularika
Western Force 50 defeated Queensland Country 49
Western Force
Tries: Heath Tessmann, Jack McGregor, Nick Jooste 2, Carlo Tizzano, Dominic Hardman, Fergus Lee-warer, Jonah Placid
Cons: Andrew Deegan 5
Queensland Country
Tries: Rohan Saifoloi, Tate McDermott, Angus Blyth, Filipo Daugunu 2, Patrick James, Joey Fittock
Cons: Rohan Saifoloi 7
2019 National Rugby Championship Ladder
1. Canberra Vikings, 5 points
2. NSW Country Eagles, 4 points
3. Western Force, 4 points
4. Brisbane City, 2 points
5. Fijian Drua, 2 points
6. Queensland Country, 1 point
7. Sydney, 1 point
8. Melbourne Rising, 0 points
