NZ Secondary Schools Beat NSW Combined High Schools 44-4

Convincing 44-4 win against NSW Combined High Schools for New Zealand Secondary Schools team

Joy was plastered across the faces of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Team following a convincing victory against the New South Wales Combined High Schools team at Puketawhero Park tonight.

The best of those players showcased at the National Secondary Schools Tournament earlier in September combined to create one 'super squad' who took on the team from across the ditch in Rotorua.

The home side that included three players from last year’s team, Jonathan Aumua-Falelua-Malio, Awatere Kiwara and Lotu Inisi, recorded a 44-4 win over their opposition in the first game of a two match series. Local Rotorua Boys’ High School boys, Tom Ale, Tukimihia Simpkins and Selesitino Ravutaumada had extra incentive playing on their home turf in front of family and friends.

Try number one for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team came in the first 10 minutes of the first half with stand-off, Sione Moala, getting the first taste of a four-pointer hunting out the gaps in the NSW defense early in the piece. The St Paul’s College player then converted his own try taking his team out to a 6-0 lead.

After the NZ team denied the NSW Combined High School players of getting their first points on the board, and some impressive metres were gained by prop, Lotu Inisi, NZ Secondary Schools team’s winger, Kayal Iro crossed the line to extend their lead to 10-0.

With five minutes left of the first half, NSW Combined High Schools displayed promising signs of a try coming their way but were forced into touch by a tight NZ defense. An ability to transition quickly from defense onto attack and the great footwork of Awatere Kiwara had the second-year NZ Secondary Schools team player add another four points to their score – an unsuccessful conversion taking them into halftime up by 14 points to nil.

The home side lifted the intensity up a notch further just minutes into the second half when Vice-Captain, Starford To’a identified a gap where he breezed through a scrambling NSW defense scoring his side’s fourth try. Sione Moala made it 20-0 with another successful conversion.

An aggressive run from Samuel Nati, the Southern Cross Campus player who captained his side to win the 2017 National Secondary Schools Tournament title, was then topped off by Nitoa Kairau who muscled his way through several NSW players to score in the left-hand corner. Moala’s boot coming to the party pushing their lead out to 26-0.

NSW Combined High Schools player could almost taste the try-line after his team strung together their best set yet, but the ball was knocked on inches from the white line.

Lotu Inisi once again put his hand up to gain metres on the opposition leaving nothing but a pile of destruction in his path as NSW Combined High Schools players struggled to stop the powerhouse prop. NZ capitalised on their forward momentum sending Starford To’a over the line for his second try of the match – score being 32-0.

Despite having an already extensive lead, the NZ team showed no signs of slowing down. A beautiful grubber from half, Samuel Nati, saw Sione Moala plant his second try of the night, once again converting for a 38-0 lead.

Then came a full field run from NSW that, paired with smart play from his teammates, had Tremayne Chatfield go over for the team’s first and only four-points of the match.

Their struggling defensive line was tested one last time by Tom Ale who sent his local spectators into cheers as he added the cherry on top with the final try of the match converted by Moala. The fulltime score reading 44-4 to the home side.
New Zealand Secondary Schools team Head Coach Duane Mann had every right to be pleased with his team’s performance tonight.

“I’m really happy that our boys kept them from scoring on multiple occasions although there was one try they managed to get in,”

“We went out with the aim of moving the ball around a lot and that worked for our game,”

“The team may have only had one and a half days training together but I think the performance out there tonight provides a good foundation for when we meet them again on Saturday,” he said.

Despite recording one of the team’s biggest losses to date, the NSW Combined High Schools Coach, Andrew Johnson took many positives from the match.

“It was a red hot NZ side that we faced tonight and when it’s all said and done, they executed well and we didn’t,”

“There were many opportunities that presented themselves but we just couldn’t capitalise which lead to tonight’s result,” he said.

The next time the two teams meet will be on Saturday October 7 at Mt Smart Stadium, the first game of the triple-header that will be the pre-cursor to the NZRL National Premiership grand final and promotion/relegation games.

NZ Secondary Schools Team 44 (Kayal Iro, Starford To’a 2, Awatere Kiwara, Sione Moala 2, Tom Ale, Nitoa Kairau tries; Sione Moala 6 goals)NSW Combined High Schools 4 (Tremayne Chatfield try)

Next game:

NZ Secondary Schools Team v New South Wales Combined High Schools
Saturday, October 7 – 3.30pm
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

ENDS

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