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Craig HillGame 2 Australia VS New Zealand
October 22nd 2006 07:57
Game 2 Australia VS New Zealand, Telstra Dome Melbourne, Saturday 21/10
The Tri-Nations Series is alive and well, as Australian whiz kid Greg Inglis produced two freakish moments of brilliance to sensationally snatch a last minute 20-15 win against the determined and gallant New Zealanders.
The Kiwis led right up until the final minute, when a slick final raid by the Australian backline resulted in a match winning try to centre Mark Gasnier. It was a cruel end to what had been a determined and spirited showing by the visiting Kiwis, and the pain and anguish on the Kiwis faces at full time proved how vital the dramatic loss was.
As was the case in last weeks match, New Zealand opened the scoring in the seventh minute through a try to UK based winger, Shontayne Hape. The Kiwis enjoyed great field position early thanks to three straight penalties by referee Ashley Klein, and
Hape was able to just plant the ball between three Aussie defenders to open the scoring.
As possession started to even up, Australia managed to produce a couple of attacking raids inside the New Zealand red zone, with lanky Australian winger Matt King denied tries by the video referees in the 15th and 22nd minute.
New Zealand’s desperate and punishing defence held firm for the majority of the first half, and it took a piece of individual, freakish brilliance by Kangaroo winger Greg Inglis to break the deadlock.
Continually repelled by the dogged Kiwi defence, Australia threw the ball wide to Inglis, who palmed off Stacey Jones and used his blinding speed and swerve to scoot thirty metres to score a dazzling individual try. Thurston’s sideline conversion allowed the Kangaroo’s to hold a 6-4 lead at half-time.
The second half was a thrilling spectacle for the 30,732 strong Victorian crowd, with New Zealand extending their lead to 8-6 through a Iosia Soliola try in the 50th minute. A series of silly penalties by the Kiwis enabled Australia to even the scores up through a Johnathan Thurston penalty goal.
But when Soliola crossed for his second try in the 66th minute, coupled with a Stacey Jones field goal in the 72nd minute, New Zealand held a 15-8 lead and looked to be about to cause an upset victory.
However, Australian whiz kid Greg Inglis put the Kangaroos back in touch with another moment of individual brilliance in the 75th minute. With Australia pinned inside their own half, Australian skipper Darren Lockyer threw a cut out pass to Inglis, who swatted away two defenders in a 65 metre run to the try line. Thurston’s conversion from in front made it 15-14.
The turning point came form the restart, with veteran New Zealand five-eight inexplicably capturing Sam Thaiday with a high shot, with the resulting penalty putting Australia right back on the attack.
A slick backline movement by the Aussies just two minutes out from fulltime, enabled Gasnier to cross for the match winning try, and leave the Kiwis ruing yet another lost opportunity.
The 20-15 score line did not reflect the commitment and skill of the much improved New Zealanders, and Australia will be pleased to escape with a hard fought, come from behind win.
Australia 20 (Inglis 2, Gasnier tries; Thurston 4 goals)
defeated
New Zealand 15 (Soliola 2, Hape tries; Jones 1 goal and field goal)
at Telstra Dome, Melbourne
The Tri-Nations Series is alive and well, as Australian whiz kid Greg Inglis produced two freakish moments of brilliance to sensationally snatch a last minute 20-15 win against the determined and gallant New Zealanders.
The Kiwis led right up until the final minute, when a slick final raid by the Australian backline resulted in a match winning try to centre Mark Gasnier. It was a cruel end to what had been a determined and spirited showing by the visiting Kiwis, and the pain and anguish on the Kiwis faces at full time proved how vital the dramatic loss was.
As was the case in last weeks match, New Zealand opened the scoring in the seventh minute through a try to UK based winger, Shontayne Hape. The Kiwis enjoyed great field position early thanks to three straight penalties by referee Ashley Klein, and
Hape was able to just plant the ball between three Aussie defenders to open the scoring.
As possession started to even up, Australia managed to produce a couple of attacking raids inside the New Zealand red zone, with lanky Australian winger Matt King denied tries by the video referees in the 15th and 22nd minute.
New Zealand’s desperate and punishing defence held firm for the majority of the first half, and it took a piece of individual, freakish brilliance by Kangaroo winger Greg Inglis to break the deadlock.
Continually repelled by the dogged Kiwi defence, Australia threw the ball wide to Inglis, who palmed off Stacey Jones and used his blinding speed and swerve to scoot thirty metres to score a dazzling individual try. Thurston’s sideline conversion allowed the Kangaroo’s to hold a 6-4 lead at half-time.
The second half was a thrilling spectacle for the 30,732 strong Victorian crowd, with New Zealand extending their lead to 8-6 through a Iosia Soliola try in the 50th minute. A series of silly penalties by the Kiwis enabled Australia to even the scores up through a Johnathan Thurston penalty goal.
But when Soliola crossed for his second try in the 66th minute, coupled with a Stacey Jones field goal in the 72nd minute, New Zealand held a 15-8 lead and looked to be about to cause an upset victory.
However, Australian whiz kid Greg Inglis put the Kangaroos back in touch with another moment of individual brilliance in the 75th minute. With Australia pinned inside their own half, Australian skipper Darren Lockyer threw a cut out pass to Inglis, who swatted away two defenders in a 65 metre run to the try line. Thurston’s conversion from in front made it 15-14.
The turning point came form the restart, with veteran New Zealand five-eight inexplicably capturing Sam Thaiday with a high shot, with the resulting penalty putting Australia right back on the attack.
A slick backline movement by the Aussies just two minutes out from fulltime, enabled Gasnier to cross for the match winning try, and leave the Kiwis ruing yet another lost opportunity.
The 20-15 score line did not reflect the commitment and skill of the much improved New Zealanders, and Australia will be pleased to escape with a hard fought, come from behind win.
Australia 20 (Inglis 2, Gasnier tries; Thurston 4 goals)
defeated
New Zealand 15 (Soliola 2, Hape tries; Jones 1 goal and field goal)
at Telstra Dome, Melbourne
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