FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

There were plenty of changes for New Zealand as they took to the field at the Christchurch Stadium with the aspiration of sealing their quarter final place against a Scotland side who were well beaten by Tonga last weekend.

 

Steve McCormack’s Bravehearts side were in danger of early elimination in a tough group where a loss today would see them needing a victory over their final opponents next weekend, Samoa.

 

Despite these two sides drawing 18-18 the last time they met in the Four Nations last year, the Kiwis were massive favourites for a big win after their confident victory against Samoa over the opening weekend.

 

There was little to choose between the two sides until the ninth minute when Kenny Bromwich found a gap in the Scotland defence to score from five metres a couple of tries after getting a penalty for a Scottish obstruction. Shaun Johnson added the conversion for a 6-0 lead.

 

Jason Nightingale scored the Kiwis second try on eleven minutes after finding space on the overlap to score in the left corner. Johnson was unable to add the touchline conversion. The floodgates were opening and two minutes later Joseph Tapine saw a gap open up in front of him and it was all too easy to run twenty metres to score. Johnson failed to add a simple looking conversion.

 

A brave opening few minutes for Scotland was all too brief as they started to fall off tackles.

 

On twenty-two Nightingale grabbed his second, and New Zealand’s fourth, when he stooped to take a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck pass and ground in the corner. Johnson was again unable to add the extras but his side were already pulling away from the Bravehearts.

 

Scotland had no answer to the onslaught. On the half hour Te Maire Martin went twenty metres to score after Nelson Asofa-Solomona had broken the line and fed the half-back. Johnson added the two for 24-0.

 

Just before the interval Peta Hiku got his reward for a half of hard work when he took a Brad Takariangi pass to dive over in the right corner. Johnson was unable to kick the two but New Zealand had a 28-0 interval lead.

 

More missed Scotland tackles allowed New Zealand over the line on forty-two when Russell Packer broke Alex Walkers tackle and crossed on his knees. Johnson added the goal from under the sticks and the scoreboard was off and moving.

 

Superb Kiwi handling and a great dummy from Martin allowed him to dart through a gap in the defence to score under the sticks on fifty-two minutes. Johnson added the conversion to bring up the forty. Within two minutes Dean Whare took a Martin pass to step past the last defender and go under the sticks giving Johnson his simplest goal of the afternoon.

 

The procession continued on fifty-eight after Danny Brough had failed to find touch with a penalty. Two tackles later and Peta Hiku was on hand to take a Tuivasa-Sheck pass to go over wide. Johnson converted from the touchline for 52-0.

 

Inside two minutes Shaun Johnson took another Tuivasa-Sheck inside pass to go thirty metres to score and claim the record as New Zealand’s all time top points scorer. He added the extras himself and New Zealand were getting closer to a point a minute.

 

On sixty-nine the Scottish defence failed to deal with a grubber into their goal area and Hiku pounced to get his right hand on the ball to complete his hat-trick. Johnson added the extras for 64-0 and Scotland were praying for the final hooter.

 

There was finally some reward for Scotland when Oscar Thomas found a gap in the Kiwi defence and managed to get to the line and ground for Scotland’s first try of the night. Brough added the two and the nilling was avoided.

 

Martin completed his hat-trick on seventy-six minutes dipping the shoulder to dart through the line. Johnson was unable to add the goal. Again within two minutes of the restart Elijah Taylor found plenty of space to run through an exhausted Scottish line to score. Johnson added the two to complete the afternoon’s scoring and five New Zealand a 74-6 win.

 

It was men against boys as New Zealand ran riot over a Scotland side that simply had no answer to the onslaught. Scotland were as poor as the Kiwis were exceptional with missed tackles and simple errors on the few occasions that they had control of the football. It was exhibition stuff which secured New Zealand’s spot in the quarter finals.

 

New Zealand: Tuivasa-Sheck, Nightingale (2T), Whare (T), Takariangi, Hiku (3T), Martin (3T), Johnson (T, 9G), Taupau, Taylor (T), Warea-Hargreaves, Bromwich (T), Tapine (T), Blair.  Subs: Asofa-Solomona, Packer (T), Fonua-Blake, Levi.

 

Scotland: A Walker, Tierney, Hellewell, Stein, Russell, Brough (G), Thomas (T), Douglas, Addy, Kavanagh, Anderson, Ferguson, Bell.  Subs: J Walker, Wilkinson, Brooks, K Bentley.

 

Referee: Henry Perenara.

 

Half-Time: 28-0.

 

Full-Time: 74-6.

 

Attendance: .

 



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 4th Nov 2017 5:55 AM | Views : 39374 | Replies : 7 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
0m
Fevround 2
BarnsleyGull
84
1m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34247
5m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
55960
22m
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Emagdnim13
8702
51m
The Bulls away
Listenup94
6
Recent
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Snaggletooth
9
Recent
Huddersfield - Home
BigTime
5
Recent
Challenge Cup
Captain Hook
34
Recent
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Dave K.
115
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
28s
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34247
32s
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Dave K.
115
51s
Smith - should he stay or should he go
bonaire
345
52s
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
56s
Challenge Cup
Captain Hook
34
56s
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Snaggletooth
9
2m
Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE
Zig
1933
2m
Other Championship Clubs
Trojan Horse
97
3m
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
3m
Halifax H
Maccbull_Big
32
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
Listenup94
6
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Snaggletooth
9
TODAY
Saints a
Itchy Arsena
12
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
BigTime
5
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
imwakefieldt
19
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
batleyrhino
20
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Bobby Digita
10
TODAY
Spare Tickets Friday
Azul
3
TODAY
RL Podcast
AgbriggAmble
1
TODAY
Challenge Cup
Captain Hook
34
TODAY
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Final Draw
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
470
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
582
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
515
Warrington Demolish London For..
637
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
687
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
660
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
911
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
893
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1041
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1009
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1065
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1052
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3826
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1176
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1057
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist