Bruce clinches it for NZ Maori
Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:26
New Zealand Maori has beaten Tonga 20-9 in their opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup at Albany Stadium.
The opening stanza of the game was nothing short of brutal as each team threw all the weight they possessed at each other with neither team willing to take a backwards step.
Flyhalf Callum Bruce was unable to add six easy points for the Maori in the opening 15 minutes as he sprayed both penalty kicks left.
It wasn't until the 25th minute of play that Bruce was able to notch the first points of the game as he did justice to the term 'third time lucky' and nailed home a penalty.
Tongan flyhalf Fangatapu Apikotoa levelled the scores with a penalty and the teams went into the break at 3-3.
It took all of ten minutes for the Maori to score the first try of their campaign when centre Tamati Ellison dotted down with Bruce adding the extra two.
Tongan fullback Sione Mone Tu'ipolotu was yellow-cared in the process of the try for some blatant illegal play right under the referee's nose.
Play went straight back down the other end of the field after the restart though and another easy penalty kick was steered between the uprights by Apikotoa to take the score to 10-6.
Bruce then took the opportunity to again stretch the lead after he kicked another penalty in the 54th minute.
Some ridiculous illegal play in a ruck right inside the Maori 22 then allowed Apikotoa to add another three valuable points through a penalty and take the score to 13-9.
Another yellow card was handed, this time to Tongan centre Epeli Taione, for a head-high tackle on Thomas Waldrom.
The try of the match was scored in the 72nd minute by scrumhalf Piri Weepu after he received an offload from wing Hosea Gear who broke several tackles down the touchline.
Bruce had no problem adding the extra two and sealing the win for the Maoris.
Scorers:
For New Zealand Maori:
Tries: Ellison,Weepu
Con: Bruce 2
Pens: Bruce 2
For Tongans:
Pens: Apikotoa 3
Teams:
New Zealand Maori: 15 Shannon Paku, 14 Zar Lawrence, 13 Jason Kawau, 12 Tamati Ellison (co-captain), 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Callum Bruce, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (co-captain), 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Isaac Ross, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Keith Cameron.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Ben May, 18 Hoani MacDonald, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Tim Bateman, 22 Glen Horton.
Tonga: 15 Sione Tu'ipulotu, 14 Samisoni Pone, 13 Hudson Tonga'uiha, 12 Epeli Taione, 11 Vungakoto Lilo, 10 Fangatapu Apikotoa, 9 Soane Havea, 8 Lotu Filipine, 7 Nili Latu (captain), 6 Hale T-Pole, 5 Emosi Kauhenga, 4 Joshua
Afu, 3 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 2 Viliami Ma'asi, 1 Toma Toke.
Replacements: 16 Semisi Telefoni, 17 Sateki Mata'u, 18 Samiu Ika, 19 Tevita Fifita, 20 Enele Taufa, 21 Vaea Poteki, 22 Tupou Palu.
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
