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Craig HillGame 1 - New Zealand VS Australia
October 15th 2006 04:35
2006 Tri-Nations Series
Game 1 - New Zealand VS Australia, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 14/10/06
The Australian Kangaroos scored a hard fought opening Tri-Nations encounter 30-18 last night, with Australia's exciting young backline proving the difference between two evenly matched teams.
In what was a physically bruising clash between two rugby league superpowers, a wild all in brawl early in the first half proved to the 17,887 strong Auckland crowd, that national pride is alive and well in this international series. Australian winger Matt King sparked the wild melee, when he retaliated to a late shove by rival winger Manu
Vatuvei, which saw him collide with the sponsors advertising surrounding the field of play. King, Vatuvei and Kiwi fullback Brent Webb all proceeded to traded blows, before both teams joined in an old school 'punchathon'.
With tempers still simmering, New Zealand second rower David Kidwell produced a massive hit on towering Australian interchange forward Willie Mason, which saw the big unit sporting a nasty black eye. Post match interviews later revealed that Mason received
special attention form the Kiwi players for his constant outbursts and alleged derogatory demeanour whilst the Kiwis performed their traditional pre game Haka.
While the first half resembled a mini war zone, there was actually some entertaining football played, as both sides looked to spread the ball out to their classy backlines. The Kiwis opened the scoring in the sixth minute, when the video referee gave Kiwi five-eight Nigel Vagana the benefit of the doubt try after he got the ball down under the attention of three Australian defenders.
New Zealand born Australian fullback Karmichael Hunt levelled the scores at six all eight minutes later, after good lead up work by Johnathan Thurston. Hunt was in for his second try just four minutes later after the talented Australian backline finally clicked into gear.
New Zealand was gifted possession just minutes before half time, and mounted continuous pressure on the Australian defensive line. A loose pass by the Kiwi backline allowed Aussie centre Mark Gasnier to scoop up the ball and run 85 metres to score a match turning intercept try. Gasnier’ try allowed Australia to hold a 20-6 lead at the break.
After all the controversy and emotion of the first half, both sides settled down and played tough rugby league for the next forty minutes. Australia constantly repelled the Kiwi attack for most of the second half, but a converted try to Vatuvei closed the gap to 20-12.
Once again, a New Zealand error handed Australia good field position, and when Mark O’Meley crashed over for the Aussies, the game was as sealed at 26-12 to the Kangaroos. Further tries to debutants Greg Inglis and Jerome Ropati produced the final score of 30-18, and the return bout between these two teams is to be played in Melbourne this Saturday night.
Australia 30 (Hunt 2, O’Meley, Inglis, Gasnier tries; Thurston 5 goals)
defeated
New Zealand 18 (Ropati, Vatuvei, Vagana tries; Jones 3 goals)
at Mt Smart Stadium
Game 1 - New Zealand VS Australia, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, 14/10/06
The Australian Kangaroos scored a hard fought opening Tri-Nations encounter 30-18 last night, with Australia's exciting young backline proving the difference between two evenly matched teams.
In what was a physically bruising clash between two rugby league superpowers, a wild all in brawl early in the first half proved to the 17,887 strong Auckland crowd, that national pride is alive and well in this international series. Australian winger Matt King sparked the wild melee, when he retaliated to a late shove by rival winger Manu
Vatuvei, which saw him collide with the sponsors advertising surrounding the field of play. King, Vatuvei and Kiwi fullback Brent Webb all proceeded to traded blows, before both teams joined in an old school 'punchathon'.
With tempers still simmering, New Zealand second rower David Kidwell produced a massive hit on towering Australian interchange forward Willie Mason, which saw the big unit sporting a nasty black eye. Post match interviews later revealed that Mason received
special attention form the Kiwi players for his constant outbursts and alleged derogatory demeanour whilst the Kiwis performed their traditional pre game Haka.
While the first half resembled a mini war zone, there was actually some entertaining football played, as both sides looked to spread the ball out to their classy backlines. The Kiwis opened the scoring in the sixth minute, when the video referee gave Kiwi five-eight Nigel Vagana the benefit of the doubt try after he got the ball down under the attention of three Australian defenders.
New Zealand born Australian fullback Karmichael Hunt levelled the scores at six all eight minutes later, after good lead up work by Johnathan Thurston. Hunt was in for his second try just four minutes later after the talented Australian backline finally clicked into gear.
New Zealand was gifted possession just minutes before half time, and mounted continuous pressure on the Australian defensive line. A loose pass by the Kiwi backline allowed Aussie centre Mark Gasnier to scoop up the ball and run 85 metres to score a match turning intercept try. Gasnier’ try allowed Australia to hold a 20-6 lead at the break.
After all the controversy and emotion of the first half, both sides settled down and played tough rugby league for the next forty minutes. Australia constantly repelled the Kiwi attack for most of the second half, but a converted try to Vatuvei closed the gap to 20-12.
Once again, a New Zealand error handed Australia good field position, and when Mark O’Meley crashed over for the Aussies, the game was as sealed at 26-12 to the Kangaroos. Further tries to debutants Greg Inglis and Jerome Ropati produced the final score of 30-18, and the return bout between these two teams is to be played in Melbourne this Saturday night.
Australia 30 (Hunt 2, O’Meley, Inglis, Gasnier tries; Thurston 5 goals)
defeated
New Zealand 18 (Ropati, Vatuvei, Vagana tries; Jones 3 goals)
at Mt Smart Stadium
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