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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2720640, member: 1899"] AUSTRALIA 22; REST OF THE WORLD 10 at Sydney Football Stadium Celebrating Australia’s Bicentennial year, the ARL scheduled a match between the Aussies and the Rest of the World at the lavish new Sydney Football Stadium in July. It was only the second time in history of the game that Australia has played the Rest of the World. Their first match was in 1957 as part of the World Cup campaign and to celebrate the silver jubilee of Rugby League in Australia. Australia won that day and they did it again in 1988, beating the best of the other four league nations 22-10. The match was a grand exhibition, featuring Jack, Lewis, Pearce, Hanley and Graham and a host of other greats of the modern day game. Tragically, the day was marred by the recurrence of Mal Meninga’s arm injury, only a month after his comeback. The match was accorded official international status, but was not an official Test. Flashy passes, classy tries, long attacking sorties and adventurous moves won-out over stody defense and conservatism at the Sydney Football Stadium. Australia and the Rest of the World captured the spirit of the event, a celebration of Australia’s bicentenary and played some of the brightest football of the year. Tragically the endeavour of 26 players was overshadowed by the fourth fracture of Mal Meninga’s arm. Meninga made a glorious comeback to the game after his series of broken arms, but when it snapped against shortly before the end of the match Meninga was a figure of despair. The Rest of the World, comprised mainly of New Zealand and Great Britain Test players, scored two tries early and were poised to upset the Australians. Both were scored off superbly executed set moves, the first when Kevin Iro finished off a move initiated by Andy Gregory and the second when Mike Gregory sprinted down the blindside to score off a sweetly timed one-handed pass by Mark Graham. But Australia responded with four spectacular tries of their own, two in each half. Mark McGaw, making his international debut, scored a double; his Cronulla team-mate Andrew Ettingshausen crossed for one and Wally Lewis using his brute strength close to the line to barge over for the fourth. Outside McGaw, Illawarra’s Alan McIndoe became his club’s first Australian player and turned in a commendable performance. In the forwards Gene Miles made his debut as a second-rower in the Green and Gold and showed his devastating running power several times during the match. Official man-of-the-match Gavin Miller again demonstrated his abundant ball skills and his ability to create chances put Australia in a winning position. North Sydney’s Kiwi forward Mark Graham and English Test half Andy Gregory were classy performers for the Rest of the World. Papua New Guinea referee Graham Ainui, a newcomer to international refereeing, made a fine first of his first big assignment. There wasn’t a complaint to be heard from either camp. AUSTRALIA 22 (McGaw 2, Lewis, Ettingshausen tries; Meninga 3 goals) defeated REST OF TH WORLD 10 (Iro, Gregory tries; Mercer goal) Australia Garry Jack, Andrew Ettingshausen, Mal Meninga, Mark McGaw, Alan McIndoe Wally Lewis ©, Allan Langer Steve Roach, Greg Conescu, Sam Backo, Gavin Miller, Gene Miles, Wayne Pearce Reserves: Des Hasler, Wally Fullerton-Smith Rest of the World Gary Mercer, Henderson Gill, Kevin Iro, Dean Bell, Dairi Kovae Shane Cooper, Andy Gregory Kevin Ward, Wayne Wallace, Adrian Shelford, Mark Graham ©, Mike Gregory, Ellery Hanley Reserves: Jean-Phillipe Pougeau, Sam Stewart [/QUOTE]

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