Australia A v Maori for Pacific title
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:15
Australia A and New Zealand's Maori team will put their unbeaten records on the line and contest the International Rugby Board (IRB) Pacific Nations Cup title when they clash in next weekend's deciding game.
Australia A and the Maori set up their showdown with consummate victories at the weekend's fourth round of games.
The second-string Australian combination went on another try-scoring spree with seven in their 50-13 romp over Fiji at Ballymore, Brisbane, on Sunday.
New Zealand Maori hold down second spot, trailling Australia A by two bonus points, after they overran Japan 65-22 in Napier on Saturday.
The tournament will be decided next Sunday when Australia A host New Zealand Maori in Sydney.
"In the back of our minds we always wanted to go into the last game against the Maori playing for the title and now that has arisen," Australia A coach Phil Mooney said.
"But we've now got to take it just like any other game and prepare well this week."
Australia A followed up their 90-7 pounding of winless Tonga last week with another comfortable victory.
Waratahs wing Lachlan Turner scored a brace of tries and flyhalf Daniel Halangahu kicked seven from eight attempts for a personal tally of 15 points as Australia A took it easy after leading 31-3 at half-time.
Reds blindside flank Hugh McMeniman, who moved into the second row in the second half, was voted man of the match.
The Maori started their match against Japan in the same unconvincing fashion of previous weeks and although they dominated possession and territory they trailed 17-22 at half-time.
But it was a different story after the break as the Maori off-loads began to stick and their traditional free-running game began to blossom.
"It was good to open it up in the second half," said Maori captain Tamati Ellison.
"We consciously tried to get in behind them. We've got some good ball players, and we once we freed up the arms it was alright."
Hosea Gear scored a hat-trick of tries for the Maori, Zar Lawrence and Callum Bruce scored two each - while Ellison, Dwayne Sweeney and Jason Kawau also touched down.
Bruce added six conversions and a penalty for a match haul of 25 points.
For Japan, Bryne Robbins, Christian Loamanu and Luke Thompson scored tries with James Arlidge landing a penalty and two conversions.
Samoa, meanwhile, moved up to fourth in the championship when they scored their first win of the year beating Tonga 20-15 in Nuku'alofa.
Fiji remain in third spot and finish off their tournament against Tonga in Nuku'alofa next Saturday. Japan travel to play Samoa.
AFP
