NRC semi-finalists confirmed
For the 'Pacific Island' round, there were celebrations of Pacific Island culture around the country as six teams went into the final round in semi-finals contention.
With six tries each, the NSW Country Eagles' 44-40 victory over the valiant Western Sydney Rams kept the vocal crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the see-sawing match. The win secured the Eagles the minor premiership, the Horan-Little Shield for 2016 and the Benn Robinson Bell.
At Viking Park in Canberra, the Perth Spirit's control in the second half secured them the all-important victory over the UC Vikings to take them into the semi-finals.
In 80km winds in Frankston, the Sydney Rays managed a gutsy 38-32 triumph over Melbourne Rising to stake out a home semi-final at Pittwater Park.
The Queensland derby for the Andy Purcell Cup saw a record amount of points scored at Ballymore, with Brisbane City retaining the bragging rights over Queensland Country for another year thanks to their thrilling 58-52 victory.
All the scores and scorers!
Western Sydney Rams 40-44 NSW Country Eagles
For Western Sydney Rams:
Tries: Viiga 2, Wessels, Paenga-Amosa, Smart, Minute
Cons: Asquith 2
For NSW Country Eagles:
Tries: Gordon 2, Robinson, Fa'ainga, Ward, Ryan
Cons: Deegan 2, Adams 2
Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett, Edward Martin
UC Vikings 36-42 Perth Spirit
For UC Vikings:
Tries: Mann-Rea 2, Taliauli, Sinoti, Thompson
Cons: Thompson 3
For Perth Spirit:
Tries: Stander 2, Vasukicakau, Louwrens, Meakes
Cons: Lance, Prior 3, Alatimu
Pen: Alatimu
Referee: William Houston
Assistant referees: Matthew Hogan, Brodie Ingram
Melbourne Rising 32-38 Sydney Rays
For Melbourne Rising:
Tries: Placid, Cummins, Lomax, English
Cons: Johansson 3, Snowden
For Sydney Rays:
Tries: Dempsey, Foley, Roos, Jones, Simone
Cons: Sinclair 4
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann, Rachel Horton
Brisbane City 58-52 Queensland Country
For Brisbane City:
Tries: White 2, Naisarani 2, Gibbon 2, Beauchamp, Kuridrani
Cons: McIntyre 5
For Queensland Country:
Tries: Tuttle 2, Postal, Tupou, Perese, Lefau, Banks
Cons: Paia'aua 5
Referee: Nicholas Berry
Assistant referees: Oliver Kellett, Daniel Coelho
National Rugby Championship standings after Round Seven:
NSW Country Eagles 28 points
Sydney Rays 27 points
Perth Spirit 22 points
Melbourne Rising 16 points
UC Vikings 15 points
Western Sydney Rams 13 points
Brisbane City 9 points
Queensland Country 7 points
Semi-finals fixtures:
Saturday, October 15
NSW Country Eagles v Melbourne Rising
(Newcastle No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle; Kick-off: 15.00 AEDT)
Sunday, October 16
Sydney Rays v Perth Spirit
(Pittwater Park, Sydney; Kick-off: 15.00 AEDT)
Source: rugby.com.au
