KEY POINTS:
Tahiti picked up their best result in six attempts against a New Zealand side with a battling 0-0 draw at Bill McKinlay Park last night.
New Zealand A, aided by a huge free-kick count in their favour, should have done better but lacked ideas and the killer punch against the Tahitian national side who had lost five previous encounters against New Zealand.
Apart from a brief early burst by the home side and an even more positive response from the Tahitians, it was a game which, for long periods, did not appear to be going anywhere.
New Zealand A took an ultra conservative approach with All Whites striker Brent Fisher left to battle a well-organised Tahiti defence who relished such a one-sided battle.
With the home side playing five across the middle and with Adrian Webster and Ian Sandbrook reluctant to push forward on the flanks, much of the ball delivered to Fisher was from long range and easily dealt with the defence and goalkeeper Daniel Tapeta.
Both teams forced three first half corners but only the visitors threatened to score.
In quickly turning defence into attack and setting up veteran striker Naea Bennett, Tahiti went close to a 12th minute opener.
His shot was blocked by central defender Ben Sigmund but fell to Taufa Neuffer who fired on sight to test goalkeeper Mark Paston who answered the call with a good save.
Four minutes later he was even better, pulling off a super reflex save from a Nicolas Paige snap shot.
It was not until the home side was re-jigged 15 or so minutes into the second spell that they looked likely.
With Allan Pearce on for Sandbrook to provide some real width and Daniel Ellensohn replacing Webster to form a two-pronged attack with Fisher, there was more go-forward urgency.
They came closest to breaking the deadlock with 10 minutes to play when Fisher neatly beat two attempted tackles before pushing the ball to Pearce who somehow skied it over the goal from right in front.
Six minutes later Andy Barron drove a free kick across the face of the Tahitian goal but despairing lunges from Sigmund and Ellensohn came up empty.
The visitors again showed some of their technical ability but were too often frustrated by the referee.
For New Zealand A there is the chance to put things right when they meet in the return at Trusts Stadium at 6pm tomorrow.
