Winning Start for Young New Zealanders in Australia

PRESS RELEASE

Winning Start for Young New Zealanders in Australia

Auckland, New Zealand October 4, 2012 - In their first match of a two game tour to Australia, the NZ Residents 16s played the Greater Brisbane Junior RL 17s winning 32 points to 22. Played in front of a large crowd at Carina Rugby League grounds, South East Brisbane in 25 degree heat, the young New Zealanders managed to overcome their short preparation time, the travel, three hour time difference and warmer temperatures to put on a great display of attacking rugby league.

The NZ 16s demonstrated their class early with powerful forward play making things very difficult for the Greater Brisbane 17's Stingrays. Ahurei Winitana of the Upper Central Zone scored within the first seven minutes of play but following the re start a string of handling errors provided the Brisbane side with too many opportunities which saw them go head of the NZ team 12-4. The NZ team then scored off a great interchange of play with Ahurei Winitana going in for his second try, bringing the score to 12-10 to the Australians.

An early injury to prop Michael Uluakiola tested the NZ bench but dominance in the middle soon returned for the Kiwi team with Semisi Vea proving extremely dangerous around the ruck. There was plenty of powerful running by big forwards Ofahiki Ogden, Bunty Afoa and Props Jacob Diaz and Jiordan Fidow-Kele. Replacement forward Losi Filipo scored NZ’s third try and Fidow-Kele their fourth in the first half giving the Kiwi team a 20 points to12 half time lead with Richard Timoti converting 2 from 4. “The first half was so fast and had a really high intensity” said Fidow-Kele.

At half time coach Jeff Whitaker emphasised the need to be patient and complete sets, with only eight from 13 completed in the first half. Unfortunately further lost possession hurt the visitors and the Brisbane side started to assert their dominance with good angle running and accurate kicking, tiring the bigger NZ team, that saw the home side scoring two more tries.

Despite the lack of possession Kurt Bernard, Afoa and Ogden were damaging with each opportunity, and out wide Ariel Tusiane had the better of his opposing centre and scored NZ’s fifth try. Handling errors again proved costly from the restart and the Australian’s scored twice closing the gap to 26 to 22 before Ofahiki Ogden sealed the victory, destroying the Brisbane defensive line and scoring a 30 metre solo effort through the middle of the ruck bringing the final score to 32 to 22 to New Zealand.

The team finished the second half with a completion of only six from 13 sets but were clearly the more talented. The player of the match was the hard working second rower vice captain Bunty Afoa. “We have to talk more, hold possession and play with more patience to get the better of the Queensland Academy” Afoa said. The Queensland Academy have been in training as a squad for the last two years, so the team know they will have to step up for the next game.

Before the game all the players in the NZ team had cognitive screens performed to assist the medical and training staff to identify any suspected concussions during the tour and the player’s individual weights were recorded by trainer Greg Davies before and after the match.

“In a busy tour schedule we need to be able to ensure the boys rehydrate to play at their best so taking their weight before and after each game to make sure they replace lost fluid is important, and to have a cognitive screens done before they play helps us to identify any signs of concussion so we can be sure the players welfare is always put first” Davies said.

The team will spend the rest of the week on the Gold Coast and play the Queensland Academy 16s on Sunday at 1pm (4pm NZDST) before the NZ Residents 18s play the Gold Coast Titans 18s at 3pm (6pm NZDST), both at Parkwood Rugby League, Labrador, Queensland.

The 16s went into camp at Bruce Pulman Park, Papakura last Sunday where they completed pre tour formalities including team photos, workshops, team training and the all important haka practice before flying to Brisbane on Tuesday. They are now based at the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre which offers training facilities and accommodation.
NZ Residents 16s: 32
Greater Brisbane Junior RL 16s: 22
Carina Rugby League, Carina, Queensland
7pm, Oct 3, 2012
NZ Residents 16s v Queensland Academy 16s
Parkwood Rugby League, Labrador, Queensland
1pm, Oct 7, 2012

Notes for Editors:
At the conclusion of the NZRL’s seven Zone National Competition in 2011 a 15s Merit Team was named. These players along with others who won scholarships from Pirtek and Tranzit NZ attended a National Performance Camp in Rotorua in July. The selectors then followed their progress during the 2012 National Competition and the National Secondary Schools tournament before naming the 19 man touring squad. For details on the team etc please visit our website page here www.nzrl.co.nz/nz-resident-16s.aspx.

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