Rugby League: Junior Kiwis romp to big win

8.00pm

The Junior Kiwis ran rampant in the second half to beat the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) team 56-10 in a rugby league international in Wellington tonight.

The Junior Kiwis led just 12-10 at the break but scored eight of their 10 tries in the second spell, with the visitors barely venturing into the New Zealand half.

The bigger New Zealand team, coached by former Kiwi James Leuluai and made up of under-18 players, were dominant up front and it told in the second spell as their speedy outside backs found extra space.

The chief beneficiaries were prop Epalahame Lauaki, loose forward Lui Anderson and centre Jerome Ropati, who each scored two tries.

Lauaki was the game's dominant figure, setting up several other tries with his ability to drag in tacklers and offload.

The other prop, Evarn Tuimave, kicked seven of the eight goals. He is a nephew of former Kiwi Tony Tuimavave.

The AIS team comprised players from clubs and districts not connected with the National Rugby League.

The game was a curtainraiser for the trans-Tasman test between New Zealand and Australia.

Junior Kiwis 56 (Lui Anderson 2, Jerome Ropati 2, Epalahame Lauaki 2, Jason McDougall, Evarn Tuimavave, Thomas Leuluai, Kane Ferris tries; Tuimavave 7 goals, Toshio Laisini goal)

Australian Institute of Sport 10 (Nathan Berry, Justin Deitch tries; Berry goal)

Halftime: 12-10

- NZPA