Sitemap
ContactNews
22 - 26 to Aussies in curtain-raiser
Saturday, October 14th, 2006
NZU League team lost narrowly in Saturday’s Mt Smart curtain-raiser.
A heart-breaking try in the final minute of play by the Australian right wing Jamen McLeod sealed a narrow 26-22 win by the Australian Tertiary side over the New Zealand Universities at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday afternoon. The match was played as one of two curtain-raisers before the Kiwi-Kangaroos tr-nations test.
Although the final score reflected a close contest, the Australians made it difficult for themselves by only getting one goal over from its six tries compared to the perfect record by NZU fullback Scott Hurrell, who successfully kicked over three goals and two penalties which kept his side in the race for most of the game. Earlier in the week, Hurrell (who only began as team goal kicker this year) also had a faultless kicking performance against the New Zealand Defence Force in Palmerston North.
The Australian Tertiary side capitalised on some needless NZU penalties to score three tries to one in the first half to lead 14-8 at halftime. New Zealand Universities however came out firing in the second half and levelled the scores three minutes after the break when its outstanding hooker Hone Patrick went over for his second try of the game. A questionable penalty goal for a shoulder charge put NZU ahead seven minutes later, before the Australians soon began to cash in with some ordinary defence, especially out wide, to keep themselves in check for the remainder of the match with a further three tries.
NZU had one final opportunity to take the game away from the Australians when Scott Hurrell¡¯s younger brother Ben went over for a converted try with five minutes remaining to level the scores at 22-all. The Australians however had one final counter attack too many for NZU by again targeting out wide on the NZU backline to give McLeod a try, when he was literally centimetres away from going over the touchline.
New Zealand Universities’ coach Trevor McLeod felt his team did not work properly together as a unit and gave away too many penalties at vital times which cost them vital field position. He however was praiseworthy towards the efforts of Patrick, Scott Hurrell, and props Henry Heke and Simon Beale.
The match in fact was the final international for the seasoned Heke, who had won Student World Cups under McLeod in Great Britain in 1999 and in Australia last year. Australian Tertiary coach Dave Wood believed his side’s willingness to keep going throughout was an important key factor towards winning the game along with the inspired play by scrumhalf Tim Martin, loose forward Nick Hyde and pacy centre Pat Williamson.
Australian Tertiary 26 (Pat Williamson 2, Selwyn Bridger-Wharepapa, Dan Smith, Tim Martin, Jamen McLeod tries; Shane Beldham goal), New Zealand Universities 22 (Hone Patrick 2, Ben Hurrell tries; Scott Hurrell three goals, two penalty goals). Halftime: Australia Tertiary 14-8.
