Attempting to lower New Zealand Schools second five-eighth
Ope Peleseuma are Australian Schools (from left) first
five-eighth Dion Taumata, No 8 Michael Wells and
replacement loose forward Tom Connor. Photo by Craig
Baxter.
It was nail-biting stuff but the home side did enough to
triumph at Littlebourne yesterday.
In a game that ebbed and flowed, New Zealand Schools beat
Australian Schools 30-21 to clinch its second win in a row
over the side from across the Tasman.
But it was a game that could have gone either way and
clear-cut chances were in short supply.
New Zealand led 10-3 at the break and then immediately pulled
ahead through a slick backline try.
But it then rather went into its shell and the Australians
grabbed hold of the ball and got to within two points, 23-21
with just 10 minutes to play.
New Zealand, though, did not panic, got hold of the ball and
moved back on to attack.
It won a messy scrum and through a couple of nice skip
passes, replacement Bryn Hall scampered over out wide to
score.
TJ Perenara added the tricky conversion to clinch the match.
Hall, normally a halfback, was forced out to the wing as
injuries knocked around the New Zealand backline.
Australia tried to come back in the final stages but could
not find a way through the home side's defence.
New Zealand looked lively in the backs, but played too much
as individuals, especially in the first half, and lost the
breakdown battle.
The New Zealanders tended to lean at the breakdown rather
than push and that led to the Australians winning some ball
by good counter-rucking.
The New Zealand set piece was solid, and it obviously would
have benefited by playing a few more games together.
Its defence though was brutal, and it looked way more
dangerous when it strung things together.
New Zealand had dominated the early stages and pinned
Australia back.
Captain Perenara banged over a penalty with 11 minutes gone
but it was not until the 25th minute that the first try
arrived.
Jason Emery, who had come on for injured fullback Albert
Nikora, scored after nice work by inside backs Matt McGahan
and Ope Peleseuma.
Just after halftime, New Zealand poured back on to attack,
and a nice break from Emery allowed James Lowe, who had
switched to fullback from centre, to score.
But Australia came back well and scored after five minutes of
the second half.
Fullback Lewis Holland made a sweet run and, after he was
held up just short of the line, rugged lock Curtis Browning
went over.
Ten minutes later, speedy Australian winger Chris
Feauai-Sautia found himself marked by a prop, and he found
the outside space to run 30m to score.
Perenara and Australian goal kicker Dion Taumata traded
penalties to send the game down to the wire, before the New
Zealand backline sent Hall across.
Best for the winner were Lowe, flanker Tupou Sapaoga and lock
Michael Fatialofa.
Holland, halfback Tim Donlan and Browning shone for
Australia.
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