AUSTRALIA 104 SCOTLAND 24
IAN GOLDEN, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Tuesday

AUSTRALIA cantered to a win, but Scotland had their moments and scored four deserved tries.

The hosts opened the scoring in the seventh minute through a Zac Schumacher try, before Adam Tannock scored the Wheelaroos’ second from the next play.

Daniel Anstey was soon in the corner for the third, with Schumacher and Tannock quickly following for their second tries of the match. Bayley McKenna added four goals and Australia were 28-0 up on 16 minutes.

But then Scotland struck back on 19 minutes through James Simpson-Hill with Calum Davidson adding the goal.

An unconverted try from substitute Diab Karim increased Australia’s lead, before Davidson reached out for Scotland’s second try, that he duly converted.

Australia went into half-time 44-12 up after two further tries. Tannock collected from a fine set of passes for his hat-trick. McKenna added the extras then scored a try of his own that he calmly converted.

The second half was just 30 seconds old when McKenna went over again, converting to bring up 50.

Australia kept on scoring. Anstey got the next try, Tannock scored three more, Karim, who kicked three goals, and Schumacher got a brace of tries each, and McKenna, who also landed three conversions, went over for one second-half try.

Scotland managed two consolation scores in the final ten minutes, from Hamish Douglas, that he converted himself, and Max Owen, that Davidson improved, but the hosts brought up a century with the final play of the match, through a try and goal from Cory Cannane.

AUSTRALIA: 9 Adam Tannock, 7 Bayley McKenna, 5 Cory Cannane, 2 Daniel Anstey, 8 Zac Schumacher. Subs (all used): 1 Peter Arbuckle, 6 Diab Karim, 10 Toby Popple

Tries: Schumacher (8, 14, 67, 73), Tannock (10, 16, 32, 46, 52, 62), Anstey (12, 44), Karim (23, 65, 69), McKenna (34, 41, 58), Cannane (80); Goals: McKenna 10/12, Schumacher 0/2, Karim 3/4, Cannane 1/1

SCOTLAND: 1 Calum Davidson, 5 Olivia Fulton, 6 Max Owen, 4 Dave Hill, 3 James Simpson-Hill. Subs (all used): 12 John Clarke, 7 Sarah Devlin, 8 Hamish Douglas

Tries: Simpson-Hill (20), Davidson (29), Douglas (71), Owen (78); Goals: Davidson 3/3, Douglas 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 16-0, 22-0, 28-0, 28-6, 32-6, 32-12, 38-12, 44-12; 50-12, 54-12, 60-12, 66-12, 72-12, 78-12, 84-12, 88-12, 92-12, 92-18, 98-18, 98-24, 104-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
Australia: Adam Tannock; Scotland: James Simpson-Hill

Penalty count: 4-6; Half-time: 44-12; Referees: Stephane Vincent and Rebecca Whiteley; Attendance: 838