Junior Kiwis players celebrating their victory at Westpac Stadium yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Junior Kiwis 24
Junior Kangaroos 22
The number of Kiwis playing in the Australian competition shone through as the Junior Kiwis toughed out a win over their Aussie counterparts in the test curtainraiser yesterday.
The usual story between these two teams is a runaway win to an Aussie
side stacked with players who are steeped in the training and playing routines of the NRL.
But the Junior Kiwis who ran out yesterday were also built from NRL understudies, and in contrast to previous years, they held their composure and their defensive line.
The Junior Kangaroos had two tries in the first eight minutes to NRL regulars Will Chambers from Canberra and the Tigers' Chris Lawrence. The Kiwis woke up, used their backline and ran in replies to Gold Coast left wing Kingi Akaloa and Warriors fullback Patrick Ah Van to level at 12-all.
Twice, the Junior Kiwis were held up over the line before Akalaoa was rewarded for bustling play with his second try. Souths halfback Eddie Paea cut an angle through the defence for try four after a big burst from Roosters' wing Shaun Kenny-Dowell and it was 22-12 at the break.
But the locals let themselves down at the kick-off when Australia scored immediately through a bomb to Bulldogs wing Heka Nanai. Then followed a period of domination by the Junior Kangaroos, Lawrence over but held up, then bench player Tony Williams barging over and the kick levelling things again at 22-all.
When the Kiwis finally got some ball Chase Stanley was sent down the left touchline but he held the ball when he should have passed and a chance went begging. There were two more big breaks where the ball was lost on the Aussie 10-metre line. Paea goaled from a penalty for a strip and it was 24-22 and 10 to go.
The Kangaroos had their chances - some great defence kept them out including a try-saving aerial take from Stanley. Kiwis halves Paea and Liam Foran did a good job of steering the Kiwis around. Their forwards were solid, the backs enterprising.
It's all good news for the future.
