Australia U18’s thrash New Zealand Schools in 129 point contest

Shortly after the Australian Schoolboys team put Fiji’s Schoolboys to the sword in Canberra, Australia’s U18s did the same to New Zealand Secondary Schools at Viking Park.

It’s fair to say there was a fair amount of running rugby on show, with Australia completely running away with it in the second half, winning 81-48.

The hosts started off brilliantly, after the New Zealand side gave away a penalty within ten seconds for a high-tackle.

Australia prop Levi Slater was the beneficiary of the quick start, proving too big, too strong close to the line, scoring the opening try after just three minutes.

Southland Boys High-School first-five Jimmy Taylor quickly responded for New Zealand with a penalty, but that was the Kiwis’ last points for the next quarter of the match.

Australia’s next opportunity came through some quick hands on a loose ball, before winger Brody Folkes got his hands on the ball close to the right hand touchline.

Folkes still had some work to do, with a couple of covering New Zealand defenders making last ditch attempts, but the winger got to the line first to give Australia a 12-3 lead.

Impressive young loose f0rward out of Scots College in Sydney, Heinz Lemoto, then charged onto a pass close to the line, breaking through two Kiwi defenders to extend Australia’s lead even further.

New Zealand finally hit back through a try of their own in the 26th minute, after hooker Alani Fakava found himself at the back short rolling maul. Taylor couldn’t add the extras for the Kiwis, but the intent from the forward pack was a sign that New Zealand could get back into the game.

Treyvon Pritchard from Anglican Church Grammar School was on the receiving end of a line break by Cyrus Bloomfield, going in untouched in the corner ten minutes before halftime for Australia.

Just shy of halftime, a New Zealand scrum was inching forward just a couple meters short of the line, before powerhouse No.8 Rupeni Raviyawa took matters into his own hands.

Raviyawa bumped off one covering Australia defender to score five meters from the post, with Taylor adding the extras from in front.

The halftime hooter may have already sounded, but Raviyawa wasn’t done yet, getting one more opportunity before heading into the sheds.

Taylor made a small break on the back of a lineout drive, giving Raviyawa the chance t0 scoop up the ball and battle his way to the line.

The two late converted tries from the Kiwis helped restore some faith for the away side in Canberra.

HT: 26-22 to Australia.

It only took 45 seconds for Australia to start the second half with a try, this time through a blistering break by Nicholas Conway.

Conway received the ball in his own half, before going on a whinding run through New Zealand’s defence before linking up with Bloomfield in midfield.

Bloomfield then fired a pass back to Conway, who was too quick for the covering defence by the Kiwis to score the opening try of the half.

Australia U18 lock Isaac Fonua took advantage of some space around the ruck, throwing a huge dummy to one New Zealand defender, as he brushed off another to score close to the posts.

Finn Mackay converted from close, giving Australia a 40-22 lead after 45 minutes.

Treyvon Pritchard crossed for his first try of the game ten minutes later to extend Australia’s margin, before New Zealand replied shortly after through halfback Marco Miln.

Pritchard’s quiet first half was far from what played out in the second, as he kicked a loose ball ahead towards New Zealand’s line. He won the race, before the ball ended up back in his hands, dodging a couple defenders to score under the posts.

Replacement midfielder Tom Perkins crossed at the back of a driving maul for New Zealand, but just as you thought the away side might be back in the game, Bloomfield cut open the Kiwi defence open through a huge fend.

Bloomfield’s second try of the evening brought up 60 points for Australia on the night, but New Zealand weren’t done fighting just yet.

Ollie Guerin toed a kick ahead, latching onto the ball to score his first try of the evening in the 71st minute.

Bloomfield then got his well-deserved hat-trick, off some beautiful soft hands from midfield partner Treyvon Pritchard.

Then from the resulting kick off, Australia broke through the helpless defensive line of the Kiwis, as replacement lock Ed Kasprowicz strolled over to score their 74th point.

Replacement halfback Chayse Geros got in on the action for Australia, scoring the easiest try he’ll score, as no Kiwi defender was in sight.

On the stroke of fulltime, New Zealand co-captain Siale Pahulu crossed on the back of a nice offload by Guerin.

FT: 81-48 to Australia U18’s.

The two sides will meet again on Saturday at the same ground with kick-off being at 4.05pm NZT.