THE Queensland Outback Barbarians have recorded their biggest win of the 2016 Canada/US tour to date, smashing the Edmonton Clansmen 104-10.
Despite the Clansmen pulling in players from three other division one clubs, the tourists ran rampant from the get-go in the wet and muddy conditions.
The Barbas' backs, particularly in the first period, were a delight to watch. Crisp passes and hard, evasive running enabled the visitors to make big metres and virtually cross the line at will. The forwards were also equally impressive, not just in moving the ball forward but all in controlling the ball at the breakdown.
Fullback and man of the match Ayden Pyper (Townsville) set the tone of the outing, punching through the defence to score in the third minute underneath the posts. The ball came from a beautiful inside pass from fly half Ross Morrissey (Gold Coast).
Soon after the ball went wide from the scrum to inside centre Brendan Ralph (Toowoomba) who also passed inside to half Rudi Wentzel (Gladstone), who also went in beside the posts. That try was arguably of the best executed five pointers of the 2016 tour. The No9 was on the end of at least 10 precise passes that gave the Clansmen no opportunity to defend.
Soon after, open side flanker and captain Tom Beattie (Sunshine Coast) handed a lovely ball on to Morrissey who made it 21-0 at the 12 minute mark.
Despite the obvious direction of the scoreline, the tourists maintained their focus and the pressure on the Canadians. A stolen ball from the line out and quick hands again saw Pyper smack the ball down in the corner.
Just two minutes later the ball was back with the Barbas. An inside ball sent Morrissey in for his second beside the posts.
With the Barbas pack dominating, Ralph crossed to make it 40-0.
Loose forward Izak Holmes (Rockhampton) popped the ball to Wentzel who scored under the posts. The conversion made it 47-0.
Second rower Paul Tema (Gladstone) was tremendous. He used his sheer strength to force his way over to score the first of two.
A mistake by the Clansmen minutes later saw Tema go in out wide for his second.
After the break Clansman and former Samoan international Trevor Leota rallied the home side, delivering some damaging tackles from the edge of the ruck. That brief period of control saw the home side go in out wide.
However, it did not take long for the Barbas to regroup. A dropped ball was seized on by Jesse Meinicke (Gladstone), who side stepped at least five defenders to score beside the posts.
Then Jackson Brown (Longreach) stole the ball and made a damaging 30m run to score near the posts.
Luke Bertram (Mackay) playing at centre punished the opposition to score out wide.
A line out steal saw the ball go to Martin Van Staden (Toowoomba) who went in beside the posts.
With both sides starting the tire, a rolling mall proved successful for the Clansmen, putting the home side over in the corner for a second try.
But with 10 to go, the Barbas' response was to up the ante. Four minutes later giant forward Daren Breen (Caloundra) crossed for a five pointer.
From the kick off the visitors put on six phases, allowing US-based replacement half back Shaun Arnold-Brown to scoot through a narrow gap beside the scrum to score out wide.
Kai Bregman (Gladstone) accepted a gift ball from Tema to close the game out at 104-5.
Point scorers: Ayden Pyper 2, Paul Tema 2, Rudi Wentzel 2, Ross Morrissey try, Andre Van Staden, Brendan Ralph, Andres Kliese, Jackson Brown, Luke Burton, Martin Van Staden, Daren Breen, Shaun Arnold-Brown, and Kai Bregman tries; Ross Morrissey 7, Jim Connors 3, Brendan McKeown, and Jesse Meinicke conversions.
The Dyno Nobel Queensland Outback Barbarians next game is against the Red Deer Titans at 7pm on Tuesday, July 5.
