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CONFERENCE ONE | ROUND 3 REVIEW | SEASON XXXI VIKINGS STORM BACK IN CALIFORNIA AS ROUND THREE DELIVERS DRAMA, DOMINANCE AND LAST-GASP HEROICS! World Fantasy Rugby Season XXXI is gathering momentum, and Conference One's third round has delivered a fascinating mixture of spectacular attacking rugby, defensive battles, dramatic comebacks and some emphatic statements of intent. From the bright sunshine of Infinity Park Stadium in the United States to the rugby fields of Europe, South America and New Zealand, the competition's clubs have continued their fight for early-season supremacy. The WFR TV cameras captured one of the round's most dramatic contests, as the Central Vikings overturned a halftime deficit to defeat the Californian Grizzlies 21–12. Elsewhere, Paris produced a devastating attacking display, Bordeaux ran riot in Hawke's Bay, Edinburgh staged a remarkable second-half turnaround, and the Peninsula Pioneers left it late to snatch victory over Taupo Toa. 📺 WFR TV Match of the Round Infinity Park Stadium, USA Full time Californian Grizzlies 12 VS 21 Central Vikings Halftime: Californian Grizzlies 12–7 Central Vikings THE VIKING RAID! CENTRAL STUN GRIZZLIES WITH SECOND-HALF FIGHTBACK For forty minutes, the Californian Grizzlies looked to have the perfect game plan. Playing in front of their home supporters at Infinity Park Stadium, the Grizzlies dominated the opening half, enjoying a remarkable 73% possession and 71% territory. Tries to Poi Devin and Tele'a, together with a conversion from Pollard, gave the home side a deserved 12–7 halftime advantage. The statistics told the story of Californian control: five line breaks to two and sustained pressure that kept the Vikings on the defensive. But the second half belonged to the visitors. The Vikings transformed the contest after the interval, shutting out California completely while adding 14 unanswered points. Central prop Norris emerged as the match's standout finisher, crossing twice, while winger Lam also featured among the Vikings' three try scorers. McKenzie was flawless from the tee, converting all three tries. Despite California finishing with 52% possession, 58% territory and seven line breaks, they could not turn their statistical advantage into victory. The Vikings' defence was outstanding when it mattered most, completing 78 tackles compared with California's 76. For the Grizzlies, it was a bitter result after such a promising first half. For the Central Vikings, it was a victory built on resilience, patience and a ruthless second-half response. WFR TV Verdict: The Vikings have sent a warning to Conference One — even when under pressure, they possess the firepower and defensive resolve to turn a match on its head. ROUND THREE — THE RESULTS Home team Score Away team Californian Grizzlies 12–21 Central Vikings Edinburgh Cannon 32–20 Buenos Aires Bombers Hawkes Bay Magpies 10–52 Bordeaux Les Damiers Paris Titans 47–0 Tokyo Shoguns Peninsula Pioneers 7–3 Taupo Toa Santiago Condors 27–14 BC Lumberjacks ------------------------------------ EDINBURGH CANNON FIRE BACK TO SINK BUENOS AIRES BOMBERS! Edinburgh Cannon 32–20 Buenos Aires Bombers | Attendance: 5,928 The Edinburgh Cannon produced one of the round's most impressive second-half performances, overturning a 10–5 halftime deficit to defeat the Buenos Aires Bombers. The visitors made the stronger start, with Gonzalo Bertranou and Eduardo Bello crossing for first-half tries. Edinburgh's Jamie Dobie replied in the 31st minute, but the Bombers still held a five-point advantage at the break. Everything changed after halftime. Elliot Gourlay crossed just two minutes after the restart, with Blair Kinghorn converting before adding a penalty to put Edinburgh ahead 15–10. Although Mateo Carreras narrowed the margin with a penalty, the Cannon exploded into life. Dobie grabbed his second try in the 52nd minute, Jordan Edmunds followed three minutes later after video confirmation, and Kinghorn completed the scoring surge with a converted try in the 64th minute. Suddenly, Edinburgh had turned a halftime deficit into a commanding 32–13 lead. Santiago Cordero's late converted try gave the Bombers something to celebrate, but the damage had already been done. Standout performers: Jamie Dobie scored twice, while Blair Kinghorn contributed a try, two conversions and a penalty goal for a personal haul of 12 points. WFR News Verdict: A devastating 27-point second-half burst inside 24 minutes transformed the match and delivered Edinburgh a memorable comeback victory. ------------------------------------ BORDEAUX RUN RIOT AS MAGPIES SUFFER HEAVY HOME DEFEAT! Hawkes Bay Magpies 10–52 Bordeaux Les Damiers | Attendance: 18,124 Bordeaux Les Damiers delivered one of the most ruthless performances of the opening three rounds, overwhelming the Hawkes Bay Magpies with a seven-try demolition. The French visitors were unstoppable during the opening forty minutes. Gael Fickou opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Clement Latorre produced a sensational first-half hat-trick, crossing in the 17th, 20th and 27th minutes. Thomas Dolhagaray added another try, sending Bordeaux into the sheds with an extraordinary 32–0 lead. Hawke's Bay finally responded through Geoff Cridge in the 44th minute, but Bordeaux refused to ease the pressure. Donovan Taofifenua scored twice in the second half, while Aymeric Luc added three penalty goals across the contest and landed four conversions. Magpies captain Connor McLeod grabbed a consolation try in the 63rd minute, but there was no stopping the French assault. The defeat was compounded by an early injury to Cooper Flanders, who was forced from the field in the third minute and is expected to miss one to two matches. Standout performers: Clement Latorre's hat-trick, Donovan Taofifenua's double and Aymeric Luc's 17-point kicking contribution. WFR News Verdict: Bordeaux have laid down a serious marker in Conference One. Their combination of attacking flair and clinical finishing will concern every opponent on the schedule. ------------------------------------ PARIS TITANS DESTROY TOKYO IN SEVEN-TRY SHUTOUT! Paris Titans 47–0 Tokyo Shoguns | Attendance: 15,600 If Bordeaux's performance was impressive, the Paris Titans were equally determined to make a statement. The Titans dismantled the Tokyo Shoguns with a magnificent seven-try performance, keeping the Japanese visitors scoreless throughout the eighty minutes. Paris needed just three minutes to open their account through Curwin Bosch. Captain Antoine Hastoy followed in the sixth minute, and Hugo Hermet crossed three minutes later as the home side raced to a 17–0 advantage. Hastoy completed his double in the 23rd minute, helping Paris establish a 27–0 halftime lead. There was no respite for Tokyo after the interval. Hermet added his second try, Jonathan Danty crossed in the 56th minute, and Anthony Jelonch completed the rout with a converted try in the 79th minute. Melvyn Jaminet contributed three conversions and two penalties for 12 points. Tokyo's frustration was highlighted by a disallowed try following a video review in the 55th minute — one of the few opportunities the Shoguns had to trouble the scoreboard. Standout performers: Antoine Hastoy and Hugo Hermet with two tries apiece, while the Paris defence deserves equal recognition for its complete shutout. WFR News Verdict: Seven tries, 47 points and not a single point conceded. Paris have delivered one of the most complete performances of Round Three. ------------------------------------ STRANGE DELIVERS LATE HEROICS AS PIONEERS EDGE TAUPO! Peninsula Pioneers 7–3 Taupo Toa | Attendance: 30,902 While other matches featured spectacular attacking rugby, the Peninsula Pioneers and Taupo Toa served up a tense, uncompromising defensive struggle. In front of the largest reported crowd of the five text-based fixtures, neither side could break the deadlock during the opening forty minutes. The halftime scoreboard told the story: 0–0. Both teams had opportunities, but handling errors, defensive pressure and missed chances prevented either from establishing an advantage. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 58th minute when Taupo captain Rivez Reihana kicked a penalty to put the visitors ahead 3–0. As the clock ticked towards full time, Taupo looked increasingly capable of securing a famous defensive victory. But the Pioneers had other ideas. In the 76th minute, captain Quinten Strange crashed over for the decisive try, with Alex Harford adding the conversion. The late seven-point strike turned a potential defeat into a dramatic 7–3 victory. Standout performer: Quinten Strange — the captain who delivered when his team needed him most. WFR News Verdict: Not every victory requires a mountain of points. This was a triumph of determination, patience and the ability to seize one decisive opportunity. ------------------------------------ CONDORS SOAR AS NEWCOMERS BC LUMBERJACKS FALL IN SANTIAGO! Santiago Condors 27–14 BC Lumberjacks | Attendance: 19,642 The Santiago Condors delivered a composed home performance to defeat Conference One newcomers BC Lumberjacks in a physical encounter featuring five tries, two yellow cards and an unusual drop goal. Tomas Albornoz opened the scoring with a beautifully executed drop goal in the 14th minute. The Lumberjacks struck back through Rieko Ioane, with Josh Ioane converting to give the Canadians a 7–3 lead. However, Santiago prop Inaki Gurruchaga crossed in the 37th minute, and Albornoz's conversion gave the Condors a 10–7 halftime advantage. The hosts took control after the interval. Albornoz added a penalty before winger Adam Radwan crossed in the 50th minute, stretching the lead to 20–7. BC's problems deepened when Tamaiti Williams received a yellow card in the 53rd minute. Rodrigo Fernandez then scored Santiago's third try in the 62nd minute, with Albornoz converting to establish a commanding 27–7 advantage. The contest took another twist when Santiago's Max Schlesinger was yellow-carded in the 67th minute, and Frank Carson crossed for BC four minutes later. But the Lumberjacks could not mount a complete comeback. Standout performer: Tomas Albornoz — 12 points through three conversions, a penalty and a drop goal. WFR News Verdict: Santiago showed impressive composure to claim the victory, while the Lumberjacks demonstrated enough attacking quality to suggest they will remain dangerous opponents as their debut season progresses. ------------------------------------ 🏆 WFR NEWS — ROUND THREE HONOURS Performance of the Round Paris Titans 47–0 demolition of Tokyo Shoguns Comeback of the Round Central Vikings 14 unanswered second-half points on WFR TV Try Scorer of the Round : Clement Latorre , First-half hat-trick for Bordeaux Dramatic Moment :Quinten Strange 76th-minute match-winning try for the Pioneers 245 Points scored 35 Tries scored 90,196 Reported attendance* *Attendance total covers the five supplied text reports; the WFR TV match attendance was not provided. ------------------------------------ THE CONFERENCE ONE BATTLE IS HEATING UP! Three rounds into WFR XXXI, Conference One is already providing plenty of talking points. Bordeaux and Paris have demonstrated frightening attacking potential, Edinburgh have shown they can fight back from adversity, and the Central Vikings have reminded everyone that a rugby match is never over at halftime. Meanwhile, the Peninsula Pioneers have proven they can win the tight encounters, and Santiago have added another impressive performance to their early-season campaign. For the Californian Grizzlies, Tokyo Shoguns, Hawkes Bay Magpies and BC Lumberjacks, there will be plenty to examine before their next assignments. One thing is certain: the road to Conference One promotion is shaping up to be another fierce contest, and after just three rounds, the drama is only beginning! ------------------------------------ WFR NEWS | WORLD FANTASY RUGBY XXXI Official Round Three Conference One Review www.worldfantasyrugby.com