FORUMS FORUMS






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

  

Mt Smart in Auckland played host to game three of the Rugby League World Cup as New Zealand entered the competition with a tough looking game against the men mountains of Samoa. The bookies favoured the Kiwis but Samoa were very experienced and fancied as outsiders by some pundits.

 

The last time that the two sides met was two years ago when New Zealand scrapes a 14-12 victory, the last time that the Kiwis played on home soil.

 

It was a mouthwatering prospect and a big crowd expected a bruiser.

Just three minutes in and New Zealand opened the scoring when Jordan Rapana combined with Shaun Johnson for a spectacular fifty metre try. Johnson failed to convert but the Kiwi nerves had been settled early.

 

Fists flew on ten minutes but referee Child calmed things down.

 

On nineteen New Zealand extended their lead with another fifty metre passing try which Johnson completed off a Thomas Leuluai pass after Simon Mannering had originally bust the line. Johnson kicked the conversion for 10-0.

 

Samoa were back in the game on thirty-six when Ken Maumalo stooped to take a Joseph Leilua pass and go ten metres to dive over in the corner. Peter Mata’utia failed to add the touchline conversion but the margin was back down to one converted try at the interval.

 

The Kiwis struck early at the start of the second half. Maumalo files to deal with a kick through spilling the ball on his own goal line and Takairangi picked up the loose ball and dabbed it down over the line. Johnson pushed his kick wide right of the upright.

 

Kodi Nikorima further extended the lead on fifty-one when he got his hand on a pinpoint Johnson grubber as Tonumaipia showed little interest in gleaming his lines. Johnson added the extras to bring up the twenty.

 

It was becoming a march to victory for the Kiwis on fifty-six when Isaac Liu bust the line from close for the fifth New Zealand try of the night. Johnson again added the extras for 26-4.

 

There was a long stoppage on sixty-one while Gerard Beale was stretchered from the field after sustaining a non-contact injury.

 

The try of the game came on sixty-seven when Nikorima broke the line on half way and passed out to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who turned on the pace to go forty-five metres to score. Johnson added the extras for 32-4.

 

On seventy-one a great second effort from Asofa-Solomona reaches for the line to score from a kneeling position for New Zealand seventh try of the night. Johnson was again accurate with the boot and Samoa were being blitzed.

 

Joseph Paulo grabbed a late consolation, touching down a low kick through, but the conversion was missed for a final score of 38-8.

 

This was a comprehensive and professional New Zealand performance against the potential Samoan banana skin. They absorbed the physical onslaught of the islanders and responded with skill and crisp handling to get their campaign off to the best of starts. On this form the Kiwis will give any other side in the competition a run for their money. Samoa, on the other hand, will need to go back to the drawing board.

 

New Zealand: Tuivasa-Sheck (T), Watene-Zelezniak, Beale, Takariangi (T), Rapana (T), Nikorima (T), Johnson (T, 5G), Taupau, Leuluai, Warea-Hargreaves, Mannering, Tapine, Blair.  Subs: Asofa-Solomona (T), Packer, Liu (T), Levi.

 

Samoa: Tonumaipia, Mata’utia, Lafai, Leilua, Maumalo (T), Joseph Paulo (T), Roberts, Junior Paulo, Tevaga, Lisone, Papalii, Pritchard, Ah Mau.  Subs: Godinet, Ese’ese, Matagi, Afoa.

 

Referee: James Child.

 

Half-Time: 10-4.

 

Full-Time: 38-8.

 

Attendance: 18,000.

 



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


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 28th Oct 2017 10:26 AM | Views : 38450 | Replies : 2 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
2m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Hullrealist
116
10m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34254
11m
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
55968
11m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
wrencat1873
20
14m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Uncle Rico
11
31m
Rd 6 I Cas A
Rockinhorse
21
31m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Uncle Rico
11
31m
Saints a
Cherry_Warri
13
33m
TV Games - Not Hull
Steve0
1378
42m
Fevround 2
Wildthing
86
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
36s
TV Games - Not Hull
Steve0
1378
42s
Saints a
Cherry_Warri
13
46s
The Bulls away
Brew
7
51s
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34254
53s
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Jack Burton
8703
57s
Smith - should he stay or should he go
bonaire
345
2m
Championship TV deal
Trojan Horse
18
2m
Shopping list for 2025
Tarquin Fueg
405
2m
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
2m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Uncle Rico
11
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
Brew
7
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Uncle Rico
11
TODAY
Saints a
Cherry_Warri
13
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
wrencat1873
20
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Rd 6 I Cas A
Rockinhorse
21
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
Uncle Rico
11
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..
472
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
587
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
523
Warrington Demolish London For..
640
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
690
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
661
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
913
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
894
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1043
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1011
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1068
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1056
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3830
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1178
Dragons Triumph Over Hull FC t..
1058
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist