Isabelle Kelly stars as Jillaroos down Kiwi Ferns 26-24
SUPERSTAR centre Isabelle Kelly produced two pieces of brilliance to get Australia home against a gallant New Zealand side in a brilliant Test match.
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THE Jillaroos overcame a second half slump to walk away dramatic 26-24 winners against the Kiwi Ferns.
The Australian side looked destined for an easy win when skipper Ali Brigginshaw had a hand in two tries - setting up one and scoring one of her own - in the opening 10 minutes, but a poor second half almost cost them.
“It was a good start,” Brigginshaw said.
“It comes from completing sets. That was our goal. We went away form that after a few errors. We know how to play footy and complete the sets. That’s where we went missing.”
The Jillaroos led 12-4 at half-time before a Kiwi Ferns onslaught in their first Test on home soil since 2010.
The home side raced in 14 points in the opening 14 minutes of the second stanza with their scoring streak finally interrupted by a try to Tazmin Gray on 50 minutes.
Australia led 18-14 after 50 minutes but the scores were again level four minutes later. An Isabelle Kelly try again helped Australia to go in front but the Kiwis led by two with 10 minutes remaining. Kelly’s second try in the 75th minute ensured victory for the reigning world champions.
Coach Brad Donald said the focus had been on playing for the 80 minutes considering the WNRL have been 60 minutes matches.
“We could call it a scare,” Donald said of the result.
“We knew we were going to show up. We were talking all week. The girls came out of a premiership where they played 60 mins. They were conditioned to play 60 minutes. We knew it was going to come the last five or 10 minutes.
“Hopefully it showcased how good women’s rugby league is.”
Prop Heather Ballinger was named player of the match while New Zealand centre Honey Hireme was near unstoppable.
Meanwhile, the man who wants to wear Johnathan Thurston’s famed No.7 jersey at North Queensland has led the Junior Kangaroos to a 40-24 win against the Junior Kiwis. Jake Clifford – who skippered the side – was named man of the match as the Kangaroos raced in seven tries to five win after leading 24-16 at half-time. “New Zealand came out strong but we were able to maintain pressure,” Clifford, who played six NRL games this year, said. “I’ve never been here to play footy. It was a good experience.”