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RAN rugby side just falls short in NZ
By WOSY Geoff Stokes, RANRU Coach
Volume 50, No. 10, June 14, 2007 |
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| ENGAGE: The RAN scrum, right, prepares to do battle in NZ. |
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The RAN Rugby Union side went close to squeezing out a win against their NZ counterparts on May 25 at the Ngataringa Bay Sports Ground.
The Kiwis retained the Lou Smith Cup with a 29-27 win, but the form of a number of young players would suggest it will be heading back this side of the ditch before too long.
The Navy Breakers had seven Navy Rugby Academy (NRA) players in the 22 man squad that contested the Lou Smith Cup. Three of whom, SMN Vula, AB Shepherd and SMN Tipene, scored the team’s tries. LEUT Dean Brown scored the remaining 12 points with 3 conversions and 2 penalties to give the Breakers their 27 points.
The Breakers started the game with good ball control and Brown opened the scoring with a penalty goal. The Kiwis retaliated not long after, scoring out wide. Navy shook off the setback taking charge of the game by scoring with a penalty and then a converted try. The Kiwis hit back with a converted try but the Breakers still retained the lead 13-12 in the 33rd minute. A well worked back line play saw SMN Nasalo into space and he sent Shepherd away untouched for the final try of the half. Brown converted and the half-time score was 20-12 to RANRU.
The Kiwis used the wind in the second half to good advantage and finding space on the right went in for an easy try in the 45th minute.
Navy applied pressure while camped on the Kiwi try line. Unfortunately a dropped ball saw the Kiwis run 95m to score and produce a 14 point turnaround. At 20-22 the Kiwis led for the first time since the 21st minute.
The opposition continued to use the breeze well and 10 minutes later scored their final try to take the score to 20-29. In the last five minutes replacement half, Cameron Tipene stole a loose kick and raced 30m to score under the posts. Brown converted and Navy were 27-29 with two minutes to go. With just 30 seconds on the clock a long range field goal from RANRU faded to the left in the breeze and the Kiwis celebrated their victory. |
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