It's Touch at the Top!
Day 3 Results
Womens Open - Game 3: New Zealand 2 -v- Australia 3
Mens Open - Game 2: New Zealand 6-v- Australia 7
Mixed Open - Game 3: New Zealand 5 -v- Australia 6 (in drop off)
TRANS TASMAN TOUCH SERIES Day 3
Final Day – Aus take out series
Touch Trans Tasman Test Series – Jan 22nd – Jan 24th 2010
Day 3 – the final day and the series was very much alive for both countries. NZ had a hard road to take it out with having to win the Mixed and the Men’s, but both teams have won before.
Mixed – Aus 6 – NZ 5
This was the game we all thought it would be with neither team giving an inch. It was touchdown for touchdown, with some explosive game plays from both sides.
At the end it was 5 – 5 which today was fair reflection of the game, but there could only be one winner so they had to go to a drop off. Drop off rules are:
You drop from 6 to 5 players per side for 2 minutes. Each team must get an attacking opportunity and then if there’s still no score it’s the next to score that wins.
Today they got down to 4 a side and Australia scored first. It’s a heart wrenching way to lose but that’s the way it goes in sport. The NZ side are young and developing and have set themselves up very well for a battle against Australia in the World Cup in 2011.
Women’s – Aus 3 – NZ 2
NZ Women were playing for pride today having already lost the series with Australia winning the first two games. The Australian Women out played the Touch Black girls in the previous two matches with speed and defence. Today the Kiwi’s stepped it up and held them to a 3 – 2 loss.
While it was another 3 – 0 win to Australia the Touch Blacks can take heart in closing the gap and will now need to build on that for the World Cup
Men’s – Aus 7 – NZ 6
Along with the Mixed this was the highlight game of the series. These two teams proved there was nothing between them over the past two days and the grade was up for grabs.
The Touch Blacks started off with a roar and with two intercept touchdowns from the Australian scoring line the score was out to NZ 4 – Aus 1. At one point the lead was out to 5 – 2, but NZ let the Australian’s back in to level at 6 – 6. A last minute lapse in concentration cost the Touch Blacks the game with the final score being Aus 7 – NZ 6.
The 2000 strong crowd were on their feet cheering and chanting and for the Australians elation and for the Touch Blacks and all Kiwi Supporters heartache.
Overall results
While the games out on the field reflected the closeness of the Mixed and Men’s grades, unfortunately the final result with Australia winning all 3 grades again did not.
NZ can take heart in closing the gap and knowing there’s in nothing in it going into World Cup. The NZ Women will have to have a good look at their team, strategy and positions and find something new to throw at the Australians. There’s 18 months to get it right.
Congratulations to Australia. We look forward to the battle at the World Cup
