Mixed Open– Day 2: Saturday
Fast, electric and very physical is how the second Mixed test match started. Right from the Australian tap off, the NZ touches were made with a lot of emotion. At times too much emotion! You could tell NZ needed this game as it was do or die for the series.
Once again NZ did not start well with Australia scoring from a long ball in the first 30 seconds. Hayley McAnelly scoring the first touchdown. It took 5 mins for NZ to reply with a touchdown to Peter Vis, making the score 1 – 1.
NZ were fired up and took this fire beyond the limits of the rules with uncharacteristic hard touches and arguing with the referee. Tabitha McKenzie voiced her opion on the next Australian Touchdown. The referee did not agree with her view and approach. This resulted with team, co-captain, Tabitha McKenzie being sinbined for two minutes. This made the game very hard for NZ with Australia taking the score to 3 – 1 while the NZ player was in the bin.
Hero, Peter Vis was warned many times about his hard touches and was close to also being sin binned. One resulted with, try scoring, sensation Sarah Spacie being motionless on the ground for roughly two minutes. Sarah Spacie bounced back for Australia after re-gathering her senses by notching up another touchdown in the corner making the score 4 – 1. NZ needed to act fast or this game was about to slip away.
Jona Ale did beautiful hole running near the 5m and received the ball to score a touchdown. Aus 4 – NZ 2.
Jamie Chan for Australia dived beautifully into a hole before the NZ defence could make the touch. Aus 5 – NZ 2
NZ acted fast with a super long ball from Peter Vis to Lorelei Nathan to score in the corner, making the score. Aus 5 – NZ 3.
Legend Australian Tony Eltakchi showed his attacking brilliance by outwitting the NZ defence with a step back against the flow of play to unleash a ball to link runner Ryan Pollock who ran through untouched to take the halftime score to Aus 6 – NZ 3.
NZ had to sort their emotions and start using the top two inches for the second half. Australia just needed to continue their try scoring formula.
The second half was a fierce battle of hard drives and strong defence. Neither team wanting to give away the first try. After 7 mins Mercedes Burnside for NZ scored in the righthand corner giving NZ a new found energy which gave the NZ spectators belief. Aus 6 – NZ 4
NZ debutants Jason Te Huia and Cody Walker carved through the Australian defence to score 2 touchdowns and put NZ back level the game. Aus 6 – NZ 6.
Last nights hero Ben Moylan showed his magic once again by scoring a touchdown from dummying a long ball to dive low under a NZ defender. Aus 7 – NZ 6.
With 3 mins to go Ben Moylan went from ‘hero to zero’ by being sin binned for an aggressive touch. NZ now had a chance to even the score with a fresh set of 6 (playing 6 on 5). Mohi Aupouri threw a beautiful long ball to a running Jordan Rogers-Rhind to score in the corner. Aus 7 – NZ 7 . Game on! The crowd was on their feet.
New boy Cody Walker answered NZ’s prayers with a step back low dive to put NZ ahead for the first time in the series. NZ 8 – Aus 7 – 1 min to go.
Australia tapped off and made it to the 5m line in record time and threw a long ball to the winger who dotted down. The controlling referee looked to the sideline to see if the pass was good (not forward) but a signal from the sideline ref indicated the pass was forward. No touchdown called. This was followed by the full time siren and NZ taking game 2.
Standout players for the game
NZ – Cody Walker and go to man Peter Vis
Aus – Ben Moylan and Tony Eltakchi once again
We have a series on our hands. 1 test each with the decider at 11.00am Sunday 24th.
Last Modified on 23/01/2010 17:17