The second International game against the New Zealand Residents 18 Years team was won by the Australian Schoolboys by 40 – 16 at Bruce Pulman Park, Auckland, Saturday 8th October. The game was highly anticipated after the Kiwis won the first game the previous week. The game was played in sunny, windy conditions on an excellent surface.

The game was even early, with both sides sharing some good play and some silly errors. After 10 minutes Curtis Sironen opened the scoring with a try where he crashed over from dummy half. The Kiwis had turned the ball over after a forward pass, and darting, barging runs from George Jennings, Curtis Sironen got Luke Vescio so close to the line that he was held up. Sironen then dived over next to the posts, and Sam Harrold’s conversion gave the Australians a 6-0 lead.

The Kiwis replied in the 17th minute, after consecutive penalties allowed them to get close to the Australian line, and Trent Bishop dived over in the corner from dummy half. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving a 6-4 scoreline.

From the kickoff, a New Zealand error and two strong Australian runs had the Aussies on the front foot. The ball went wide to the right to halfback Kane Elgey, who dummied inside and outside to score 15 m to the right of the posts to take the score to 10-4.

In the 23rd minute, the Australians received a penalty on the half way line. David Klemmer produced a smashing run which was followed up by a great run By Jake Trbojevic, who was able to offload over the top to Matiu Fukofuka, who dived over in the left corner. The wind blew the conversion attempt wide, so the score remained 14-4.

Five minutes later, the Australians gained the ball from a Kiwi mistake. Sam Harrold made a slanting run from a second man play and passed to George Jennings who put Matiu Fukofuka over again in the corner for an 18-4 lead.

From a penalty 10 metres on the Australian side of halfway, Jamal Fogerty’s strong kick and a great run from Junior Paulo had the Australians on the front foot. Jake Trbojevic followed up with a run in behind the ruck to score a try 10 metres to the left of the posts. Sam Harrold’s conversion took the score to 24-4, and the teams went to half time at that score.

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first, however a mistake by the Australians after 8 minutes from a Kiwi line dropout, followed by a series of incisive runs got the Kiwis well on the attack. A grubber kick to the line took a difficult bounce for Kurtis Rowe, and Viliami Lolohea was able to dive on the loose ball to take the score to 24-8.

In the 15th minute of the second half, Matiu Fukofuka went over to score his third try of the match. The Australians had been under considerable pressure in defending their own line, until David Klemmer’s huge tackle caused a turnover. Nene McDonald made a 60 metre scoot to put the Australians on the attack. A fumbled chargedown brought about a repeat set, but the tackles weren’t needed when Matiu ran 10 metres from dummy half to score. Sam Harrold again converted to take the score to 30-8.

In the 21st minute, David Klemmer got the team out of trouble with a barnstorming 60 metre run from close to the Australian line. A penalty ensued, followed by a great run from Richard Kennar. Andrew Vela took the ball off the ruck and stormed to the line, battling five tacklers. He seemed to be stopped three times before going again and again until he forced his way over through sheer will to score 15 metres to the right of the posts. Sam Harrold kicked his fourth conversion to take the score to 36-8.

From the 25th minute the Australians endured a lot of pressure from the Kiwis, and their defence seemed impregnable. However, just after forcing a turnover, the Australians were forced into touch. After the scrum, the New Zealanders were able spread the ball quickly to the left for winger David Fusitu’a to score in the corner and take the score to 36-12 in the 27th minute.

The New Zealanders continued to put on the pressure. From a line drop out the Australians were too slow to come up in defence, and the Kiwi momentum allowed second rower Tama Koopu to run a slanting run left to score a try 5 metres from the corner, to cut the lead to 36-16.

In the 35th minute, the Australians scored the best try of the game. The movement began when Kurtis Rowe leapt above his opposition to take a bomb, and tacked a determined 60 metre run on the end of it to take the Australians well into Kiwi territory. On the next tackle Jake Trbojevic stormed into the defence, dragging tacklers with him, and popped a great pass around the corner to Brandan Santi, who drew defenders before passing to David Klemmer who took on another three defenders to crash over 5 metres from the left corner. This last score of the match meant that it was a 40-16 win to the Australians.

Australian Coach Peter Denham, from Orara High School, himself a former Australian Schoolboy, was impressed with the achievements of his players. “The boys were so easy to coach.” He said. “They analysed the DVD of last week’s game, and addressed the areas that needed to be improved upon. Our aim was to ‘finish strong’, and that’s just what we did. I’m really proud of our boys, and their performance off the field has also been exceptional. They have represented Australian Schoolboys with pride.”

Australian Secondary Schools 40 (Tries: Matiu Fukofuka 3, Curtis Sironen, Kane Elgey, Jake Trbojevic, Andrew Vela, David Klemmer Goals: Sam Harrold 4) defeated New Zealand Residents 18 Years 16 (Tries:Trent Bishop, Viliami Lolohea, David Fusitu’a, Tam Koopu).

Man of the Match: Andrew Vela

OVERALL TOUR AWARDS
Best on Tour: Jamal Fogerty
Best Forward: Jake Trbojevic
Best Back: Matiu Fukofuka
Best and Fairest: David Klemmer

NSW Combined Catholic Colleges 18's rugby league team celebrate winning the 2011 ASSRL Championships (Photo : OurFootyMedia)

Curtis Sironen (NSWCCC Captain) hold up the ASSRL Champions Trophy (Photo : OurFootyMedia)

CURTIS SIRONEN AFTER MATCH INTERVIEW (.mp3)

The 2011 ASSRL Champions are the first host team to win they won since 2006 at Wagga Wagga and celebrated with retiring coach Mr. Mick Lewis and fantastic end to the ASSRL Championships.

In a remarkable turnaround, the NSWCCC side who were toweled by the Queensland boys a couple days before to the tune of 44 - 8, started slow and Sam Harrold gave the Queenslanders a 4 point lead.

Then the NSW forwards starting getting some field position which allowed dynamic hooker Luke Vescio room to move and get the ball to the runners.

The Queenslander took a 4 nill lead with them into the sheds at halftime.

Soni Langi evened the scores with his first grand final try, Adam Elliot scored in the far corner in the 1st half to give the hosts a nice 12 - 4 lead soon after the break.

The second half was good to watch as both these champion footy teams sized each other up again and everyone on the field threw their bodies on the line for their teams.

Nick Ritter who has already had a sensational year winning the NSWRL SG Ball competition, then the following week his Newcastle Knights team flogged Brisbanes Norths Devils in the National u18 Club Final scored next.

Soni Langi crossed the line again with minutes on the clock to put the game even beyond Queensland footy teams great comebacks.

CHECK OUT THE ACTION
DAY 5
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL - QUEENSLAND v NSW CCC
NSWCHS v CAS | NSWCIS v ACT

DAY 4

QUEENSLAND SCHOOLBOYS v NSWCCC TO GET IT ON TO BE WORLD CHAMPIONS
Story & Photo's By :
The Queensland Schoolboys will get it on with the NSWCCC on Friday in the Championship Final of the ASSRL u18's this Friday at St. Marys Stadium

DAY 4 RESULTS