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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2742996, member: 1899"] Second Test AUSTRALIA 8; NEW ZEALAND 0 at Rotorua Australia secured the Trans-Tasman trophy in dour fashion at Rotorua on a carnival atmosphere in its first taste of Test match football. The city of geysers and boiling mud pools was abuzz with Rugby League for days leading up to the Test match at Rotorua’s International Showground, but sections of the crowd of around 26,000 who turned up to watch their first international league match must have left disappointed. The match was ruined by the diabolical ball-handling and questionable refereeing decisions. Some blamed the footballs used in the match, others blamed referee Ray Tennant, whose failure to keep an eye on the play-the-ball area allowed much spoiling in the rucks. It turned out to be the low scoring Test match in the history of Australia-New Zealand Tests. One try won it for Australia. A simple effort produced by Des Hasler, a halftime replacement for halfback Greg Alexander who cut through the Kiwi defence, passed to centre Tony Currie, and he found winger Michael Hancock in support to score the try. Ironically the break came from a mistake by New Zealand fullback Darrell Williams, the Kiwis’ best player for the second week running. Williams’ defence was punishing and cut off many dangerous moves by the Australians. In attack he powered onto the ball and kicked with great effect on all but one tragic occasion. Paul Sironen won Australia’s man of the match award. He continued to time his runs off the big forwards magnificently and defied his critics who claimed he couldn’t put two good performances back to back. His combination with Steve Roach was again one of the most significant features of Australia’s win. Roach constantly broke the advantage line, drawing two and three defenders each time, leaving Sironen to cause havoc on the fringes of the rucks. Mal Meninga won the Australian players’ player award for some awesome defence and typical barging runs. Australia 8 (Hancock try, Meninga 2 goals) defeated New Zealand 0 Australia Gary Belcher, Dale Shearer, Mal Meninga, Tony Currie, Michael Hancock Wally Lewis, Greg Alexander Sam Backo, Kerrod Walters, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Bradley Clyde, Paul Vautin Reserves: Des Hasler New Zealand Darrell Williams, Tony Iro, Kevin Iro, Tony Kemp, Gary Mercer Shayne Cooper, Gary Freeman Brent Todd, Duane Mann, James Goulding, Hugh McGahan, Sam Stewart, Brendon Tuuta Reserves: Phil Bancroft, Mark Horo [/QUOTE]

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