Grey skies, but dry weather at Bond University for the first of two trial matches between the Australian and Samoan Under 20 World Championship squads
Australia started well, with most of the possession and penalty count in their favour, but were unable to capitalise, due to poor handling.
Luke Burton (#12) missed with an early penalty attempt, but was successful with his second, to put Australia in front 3-0 after 10 minutes.
The Samoan kicker then missed a penalty kick, before lost ball from the Australians led to a long distance try to the Samoan #14.
Conversion from the corner missed, 5-3 to Samoa.
The Australian scrum was dominant, and pushed the large Samoan pack back on several occasions. Not having a Samoan team list, I assumed the huge #5 must have been Cameron Skelton, however when he was replaced by an even larger #20 mid-way through the first half, I knew I had assumed incorrectly.
A good run from Lalakai Foketi (#13), put pressure on the Samoans, but after a missed penalty kick, the Australians still remained try-less.
Following a strong run from Jonah Placid (#15) and then a penalty for a dangerous tackle from the Samoan #14, the Australians spent a long time camped deep in Samoan territory, however a dropped ball over the try-line by Brad Lacey (#14) kept the half-time score at 5-3 to Samoa.
Best in the first half for the Australians, Placid and Tom Staniforth (#4), but overall, lots of mistakes, including ’schoolboy’ handling errors, and one one occasion, a failure to play the ref’s whistle led to both teams standing looking at each other awkwardly, until the referee finally blew the whistle for an obstruction.
After not being able to convert their opportunities into points in the 1st half, the Australians improved their execution in the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half.
Another strong run from Foketi saw him beat 3 or 4 defenders to crash over under the posts. Conversion successful, 10-5 after 5 minutes.
The Australians were back on the attack from the kick-off, and strong-running from Lolo Fakaosilea (#8) had the Australians over the line again through Rory O’Connor (#1), but the was try not awarded due to a lost forward call from the Assistant Referee.
Undaunted, the Australians followed up with another elusive run from Placid, who was brought down 5 metres out, and quick ball had Sasa Tofilau (#24) over for a try out wide. Conversion successful, 17-5 after 13 minutes of the second half.
A few minutes later, Lacey (#11) made up for his earlier fumble, with a strong run to score, after a taking the ball from the scrum-half from an attacking scrum. Conversion successful, 24-5.
After 20 minutes gone in the second half, several substitutions were made, and David Horwitz (#22) lined up at centre outside Andrew Deegan (#10). Replacements Vea (#16) and Kaitu’u (#18) ran strongly, and after the Samoan #16 was yellow-carded for repeated infringements, the Australians capitalised with a try to Kaitu’u (#18) which was quickly followed by a second try to Sasa Tofilau (#24) who strolled over untouched in the corner.
Conversion from Horwitz was unsuccessful, and the full-time score was 34-5 to Australia.
I’ve started uploading photos from the match to the following album, but due to teenagers, the upload won’t finish until tomorrow morning. Please check back tomorrow
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100900132@N02/sets/72157644030967930/
Australia started well, with most of the possession and penalty count in their favour, but were unable to capitalise, due to poor handling.
Luke Burton (#12) missed with an early penalty attempt, but was successful with his second, to put Australia in front 3-0 after 10 minutes.
The Samoan kicker then missed a penalty kick, before lost ball from the Australians led to a long distance try to the Samoan #14.
Conversion from the corner missed, 5-3 to Samoa.
The Australian scrum was dominant, and pushed the large Samoan pack back on several occasions. Not having a Samoan team list, I assumed the huge #5 must have been Cameron Skelton, however when he was replaced by an even larger #20 mid-way through the first half, I knew I had assumed incorrectly.
A good run from Lalakai Foketi (#13), put pressure on the Samoans, but after a missed penalty kick, the Australians still remained try-less.
Following a strong run from Jonah Placid (#15) and then a penalty for a dangerous tackle from the Samoan #14, the Australians spent a long time camped deep in Samoan territory, however a dropped ball over the try-line by Brad Lacey (#14) kept the half-time score at 5-3 to Samoa.
Best in the first half for the Australians, Placid and Tom Staniforth (#4), but overall, lots of mistakes, including ’schoolboy’ handling errors, and one one occasion, a failure to play the ref’s whistle led to both teams standing looking at each other awkwardly, until the referee finally blew the whistle for an obstruction.
After not being able to convert their opportunities into points in the 1st half, the Australians improved their execution in the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half.
Another strong run from Foketi saw him beat 3 or 4 defenders to crash over under the posts. Conversion successful, 10-5 after 5 minutes.
The Australians were back on the attack from the kick-off, and strong-running from Lolo Fakaosilea (#8) had the Australians over the line again through Rory O’Connor (#1), but the was try not awarded due to a lost forward call from the Assistant Referee.
Undaunted, the Australians followed up with another elusive run from Placid, who was brought down 5 metres out, and quick ball had Sasa Tofilau (#24) over for a try out wide. Conversion successful, 17-5 after 13 minutes of the second half.
A few minutes later, Lacey (#11) made up for his earlier fumble, with a strong run to score, after a taking the ball from the scrum-half from an attacking scrum. Conversion successful, 24-5.
After 20 minutes gone in the second half, several substitutions were made, and David Horwitz (#22) lined up at centre outside Andrew Deegan (#10). Replacements Vea (#16) and Kaitu’u (#18) ran strongly, and after the Samoan #16 was yellow-carded for repeated infringements, the Australians capitalised with a try to Kaitu’u (#18) which was quickly followed by a second try to Sasa Tofilau (#24) who strolled over untouched in the corner.
Conversion from Horwitz was unsuccessful, and the full-time score was 34-5 to Australia.
I’ve started uploading photos from the match to the following album, but due to teenagers, the upload won’t finish until tomorrow morning. Please check back tomorrow
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100900132@N02/sets/72157644030967930/