AUSTRALIA 102 NEW ZEALAND 14
IAN GOLDEN, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Saturday

THE Wheelaroos won their opening match but the Wheel Kiwis, playing in their first World Cup game, fought hard throughout.

Diab Karim opened the scoring in the second minute with the first of 18 Australia tries, 15 of them converted by Bayley McKenna (and one by Zac Schumacher).

Daniel Anstey followed him over and the score was soon built up to 30-0 thanks to tries from McKenna, Karim and Anstey again, then when the latter went for a hat-trick and was forced into a pass, the ball hit the bar and fell into the arms of Adam Tannock, who easily touched down.

McKenna scored his second try before New Zealand finally got on the board. Nikia Fa’atau touched down in the corner for their historic first World Cup try on 27 minutes.

Australia extended their lead through a Cory Cannane try, but New Zealand soon scored again as Pete Sulusi touched down under pressure. Joshua Hirini-Barclay kicked the goal and the score was a respectable 48-10 at the break.

Tannock went over for his second to open the second-half scoring, before New Zealand struck back again through Fa’atau’s second try of the match.

But the Wheelaroos remained in control, wheeling in nine tries without reply in the final half-hour.

There was two each for Schumacher, McKenna and Liam Luff, with Karim, Tannock and Anstey also crossing.

AUSTRALIA: 2 Daniel Anstey, 5 Cory Cannane, 6 Diab Karim, 7 Bayley McKenna, 8 Zac Schumacher. Subs (all used): 1 Peter Arbuckle, 4 Liam Luff, 9 Adam Tannock

Tries: Karim (2, 16, 53), Anstey (6, 18, 77), McKenna (12, 22, 61, 74), Tannock (20, 42, 56), Cannane (34), Schumacher (66, 71), Luff (72, 79); Goals: McKenna 14/15, Schumacher 1/2, Karim 0/1

NEW ZEALAND: 5 Jayson Hooker, 3 Nikia Fa’atau, 2 Ryan Charles, 9 Pele Sulusi, 8 Mitch Stone. Subs (all used): 4 Joshua Hirini-Barclay, 1 Jack Brown, 6 Kauri Murray

Tries: Fa’atau (27, 49), Sulusi (37); Goals: Charles 0/1, Hirini-Barclay 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0, 36-0, 42-0, 42-4, 48-4, 48-10; 52-10, 52-14, 58-14, 64-14, 70-14, 74-14, 80-14, 84-14, 90-14, 96-14, 102-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
Australia: Bailey McKenna; New Zealand: Nikia Fa’atau

Penalty count: 7-3; Half-time: 48-10; Referees: Rebecca Whiteley and Robert Burgin; Attendance: 1,216