Melbourne wins 2007 Australian Rugby Shield

A crucial bonus point has secured the Melbourne Axemen their first Australian Rugby Shield title, despite losing their final match to the Adelaide Black Falcons, 25-19.

The Black Falcons broke the Axemen’s winning streak in a hallmark grudge match in Adelaide yesterday, however, Melbourne was able to take away a vital bonus point by finishing the game within seven points of their opponents.

An open first half saw Melbourne and Adelaide score tit-for-tat, with Melbourne leading 19-16 into the break.

However, the Axemen’s points stopped there, leaving them at the mercy of the home team in the second half, in which they spent the final 10 minutes camped near the Adelaide line to keep the margin seven or less.

Melbourne then had to wait until the outcome of the NSW Country v Queensland Country game to learn whether they had won the 2007 Australian Rugby Shield.

“We were pretty disappointed in our performance against Adelaide, but the whole time, we were focussed on winning our first Australian Rugby Shield and were fortunate we could still do that despite losing our game,” Melbourne Axemen coach, Mark Robinson said.

“We were at the mercy of Adelaide and then the (NSW v QLD) country battle and when that result came through, it was very pleasing for everyone in the team to know we had won our first Australian Rugby Shield.

“There are a number of very talented individuals in these teams and for our blokes, I know they will now be looking to the Australian Rugby Championship later this year as a possible next step.”

In this weekend’s other matches, the NSW Country Cockatoos overcame arch-rivals the Queensland Country Heelers, 28-15, in Mackay, while the Darwin Mosquitoes overpowered the Tassie Jack Jumpers, 31-3, in Friday’s non-competition match, in Darwin.

2007 Australian Rugby Shield – Round 5 Results

Adelaide Black Falcons 25 (Declan Scragg 2, Mika Lawere tries; Andrew Farquharson 3 pens) defeated Melbourne Axemen 19 (Tori Biddle, Todd Cornford, Clinton Haimona tries; Michael Thompson 2 cons), in Adelaide. Half-time: Melbourne 19-16.

NSW Country Cockatoos 28 (Nick Leseberg, Sam Sattler, Joe De Dassel tries; Leith Cooper 2 cons, 3 pens) defeated Queensland Country Heelers 15 (Brendan Bunyan, Shane Lett, Tim Collins tries), in Mackay. Half-time: NSW Country 20-15.

Darwin Mosquitoes 31 (David Tunstead, Drew Tobin, Adrian Graham, Tyson Doughty, Andre Thomas tries; Tyson Doughty 3 cons) defeated Tassie Jack Jumpers 3 (Josh Baldwin pen), in Darwin. Half-time: Darwin 26-3.

View the Final Points Table.