FORUMS FORUMS






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

  
New Zealand were playing for a place in the Four Nations Final as they took on a Scotland side playing for pride and a chance to leave the competition on a high.

The venue was a cold and damp Derwent Park in Workington where Scotland made just two bench changes to the side who fought so bravely against England last week, before succumbing in the second half. The Kiwis made rather more changes from the side who lost against Australia last Saturday.

According to the bookies it was all about the New Zealand winning margin, but Scotland hadn't read the script.

Kicking into the wind, Scotland had given as good as they got in the opening twenty-four minutes. The New Zealand defence had been thoroughly tested on several occasions, but had held firm.

Against the run of play the Kiwis drew first blood when James Fusitu'a found space down the right wing to go ten metres to cross in the corner and improve the angle to benefit from the first real break of the game. Shaun Johnson kicked the conversion for a 6-0 lead.

Within two minutes Scotland served the perfect response when Lewis Tierney picked up a Lachlan Coote grubber to the wing to ground a split second before going dead in goal. Danny Brough put the conversion attempt just short of the uprights.

Despite ending the half defending their own line, the Bravehearts had delivered a fantastic first forty minutes which made a mockery of the gulf between these two sides in the world rankings. They needed to maintain the intensity in the second half, and take their chances, because New Zealand would come at the strongly.

On fifty-four New Zealand finally cracked the Scottish defence with a passing move from the right to the left which saw Fusitu'a go over for his second of the night, this time by the corner flag. Johnson failed to add the conversion leaving his side 10-4 ahead.

Scotland were level on sixty-six when Ben Hellewell completed a fifty metre try when he threw a dummy and stepped through a broken New Zealand defence to go over by the uprights. Brough added the extras for a sensational 10-10 scoreline.

Two minutes later and Many Ma'u didn't clear the ruck giving referee Cummings no choice but to award a penalty thirty metres from the Kiwis sticks. Danny Brough kicked the goal to edge his side into the lead.

On seventy-two Greg Eastwood did all the work down the middle before moving the ball wide and allowing Gerard Beale to cross. Johnson again failed with a conversion into the wind and now it was New Zealand who had a slender two point lead.

The game was seemingly won on seventy-five when the Kiwis kept the ball alive with Beale crossing for his second to conclude a forty metre team try. Johnson missed again with the conversion but the margin was up to six points at 18-12.

But two minutes from time and Euan Aitken sensationally pushed his way to the line from five metres for Scotland's third try of the night and when Brough kicked the conversion the sides were tied up at 18-18 with thirty seconds left.

This was a fantastic Scotland performance on a night where they were not given a chance by the bookies or the pundits. New Zealand were well below par but the Bravehearts never let them settle into their game in awful playing conditions.

New Zealand: Watene-Zeleziak, Nightingale, Kata, Beale (2T), Fusitu'a (2T), Leuluai, Johnson (G), Bromwich, Luke, Blair, Ma'u, Harris, Eastwood. Subs: Martin, Taupau, Fisher-Harris, Tapine.

Scotland: Coote, Tierney (T), Aitken (T), Linnett, Russell, Brough (3G), Addy, Walker, Hood, Douglas, Hellewell (T), Ferguson, Kavanagh. Subs: Brierley, Mariano, Phillips, McConnachie.

Referee: Ben Cummins.

Attendance: 6,628.


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


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Fri 11th Nov 2016 9:58 PM | Views : 32686 | Replies : 2 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
45m
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34291
46m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
56012
Recent
Smith - should he stay or should he go
weaver93
359
Recent
TV games not Wire
rubber ducki
2864
Recent
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Tarquin Fueg
139
Recent
Ky Rodwell
Spookisback
109
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
31s
Smith out ASAP
Backwoodsman
138
46s
Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE
RobRiches
1934
1m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Tarquin Fueg
139
1m
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Jack Burton
8703
2m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
weaver93
359
2m
Fevround 2
Trojan Horse
91
3m
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
1386
3m
New Super League shirts in time for Christmas
Deadcowboys1
115
4m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
5m
TV games not Wire
rubber ducki
2864
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
York - 14th April
Spookisback
10
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
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
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
WWste
23
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
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
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhino..
140
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
561
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
679
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
588
Warrington Demolish London For..
691
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
742
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
724
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
960
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
929
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1075
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1047
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1113
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1087
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3872
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1205
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist