New Zealand’s Under 19 Boys Thrill in First Up Victory
New Zealand’s Under 19 Boys Thrill in First Up Victory
It was a mixed start to New Zealand's Youth Trans Tasman campaign in Canberra this evening with the Under 19 Boys team starring in a nail-biting 11-10 win. The Under 21 Men’s side narrowly lost 6-7, while the Under 19 Girls were defeated 7-3 and the Under 21 Women 13-2. All four teams return to the Touch field on Saturday for the second outing in their three-match series.
The Under 19 Boys victory was a true team effort as they came back from a two-touchdown deficit to overcome the tough Australian side. Ihaka Watene from the Counties Manukau province sealed the win by latching on to a bullet-like Henry Tuatea pass, diving over the line and making the touchdown before a desperate Australian side could lay a hand on him.
The Under 21 Men’s side couldn’t overcome an early 4-1 deficit but fought back strongly to almost force the game into extra time. Waikato’s Te Wehi Wright was particularly strong in his first match playing for New Zealand while Under 21’s captain Michael Cavanagh lead from the front.
Marama Davis’s hat-trick of
touchdowns in her Under 19 Girls team’s loss was a
highlight and her quick stepping and athletic diving had
even the partisan crowd taking notice. The Under 21 Women
suffered a tough loss and it will be up to the likes of
Awhina Savage and Jordan Rogers to step up on Saturday.
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Under 19 Girls Match Report:
http://touchnz.co.nz/index.php?id=16&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=163&tx_ttnews[backPid]=67&cHash=e8c1f9b54a
Under 19 Boys Match Report
http://touchnz.co.nz/index.php?id=16&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=164&tx_ttnews[backPid]=67&cHash=4e2d3c7d3a
Under 21 Women’s Match Report:
http://touchnz.co.nz/index.php?id=16&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=165&tx_ttnews[backPid]=67&cHash=af2e775c27
Under 21 Men’s Match Report:
http://touchnz.co.nz/index.php?id=16&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=166&tx_ttnews[backPid]=67&cHash=6004fba949
To keep up to date with all of the latest news and
information from the Youth Trans Tasman Test Series, please
visit the following website: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=6460&pID=14