Future stars dazzle as New Zealand beat Australia in Test
New Zealand broke off the shackles midway during the second half to outclass Australia 34-11 in their Schoolboys Test Tri-Nations rugby game at TG Millfield Oval on Saturday.
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New Zealand broke off the shackles midway during the second half to outclass a game Australian side 34-11 in their entertaining Schoolboys Test Tri-Nations rugby game at TG Millfield Oval on Saturday.
Watched by a capacity crowd of more than 3,000, the young New Zealanders showed off their skills, regularly lobbing sevens-style long passes to keep their hosts guessing.
The visitors capitalised on their advatange after Australia’s forward Tom Kibble was sent off for a high tackle in the second half, and raced in three tries in 10 minutes.
Australia were in the match in the first half (10-6) with skipper Will Harrison putting over two penalties after New Zealand planted tries through Jeriah Mua and Tupou Vaa’I.
New Zealand jumped to a 17-6 lead after skilful fullback Etene Nanai made the most of a dropped Australian pass but the hosts brought the partisan fans to their feet when forward Darcy Breen finished off a fine team move.
Some tight tackling and a stolen line-out near the Australian try line kept New Zealand from scoring but the visitors’ superior runners eventually broke through for quick tries, with Lincoln McClutchie’s length of the field effort one of the best in the game.
Trevor Hosea was awarded the Merv and Iris Allen Award for the best team man in the Australian team while Lachlan Lonergan received the Bronze Boot for being the best player in the side.
Earlier, Australian Schools Barbarians snatched a thrilling 21-20 win over Fijian Schoolboys, converting a penalty at the death after their opponents had missed one themselves.
Meanwhile, debutants Fiji Airways Drua moved back to the top of the National Rugby Championships after a 57-31 victory over Greater Sydney Rams at the same ground.
The Fijians, who included Rio Olympic rugby gold medallist Kitione Talia, ran in eight tries to the hosts’ five to win the Horan-Little Shield. The first half was close with Fiji leading 24-21.
They share the NRC leadership with Canberra Vikings, both being on 20 points. The Rams lie sixth on nine points.
This Saturday, the Rams host Queensland County at 1pm at TG Millfield Oval, Marsfield.
Result: Fiji Airways Drua 57 (Tries: Apete Daveta 2, Joeli Veitayaki Jnr, John Stewart, Apisalome Waqatabu, Eroni Sau, Frank Lomani, Kitione Taliga; Conversions: Waqatabu 7; Pens: Waqatabu) beat Greater Sydney Rams 31 (Tries: Hugh Roach, Bailey, Ben Cotton, Stuart Dunbar, Dennis Pili-Gaitau; Conversions: Jai Ayoub 3). Halftime: 24-21.