TRANS TASMAN TOUCH SERIES, DAY TWO OVERVIEW:

Overnight all teams were analysing the video tapes of the days games and strategising to put what went wrong right today. 

Mixed

Mixed were first up.  Yesterday NZ got off to a bad start and finished strongly.  Today first blood went to Australia again quickly off the tap off.  The Touch Blacks knew this was do or die to stay alive in the series so emotions were running high.  A little too high as at different points in the game 1 player from each side was sin binned, with the other team capitalising by scoring.

Again NZ were down 6. – 3 at half time and had to dig deep to stay in the game in the second half.  With emotions now under control they started to peg back the lead.  NZ debutants Jason Te Huia and Cody Walker carved through the Australian defence to score 2 touchdowns and put NZ back level the game.  Aus 6 – NZ 6.

Australia struck back to take back the lead when their sin bin offence took place and that gave NZ the chance to level the score.  With 3 mins to go new boy Cody Walker answered NZ’s prayers and scored to take the win NZ 8 – Aus 7.

Tomorrow is now the vital decider for the series.

Women’s

Today’s game was quite different yesterday which was full of missed opportunities for the Touch Blacks and incomplete sets of 6 for the Australian’s.   Today was a more free flowing game on attack and not so much of a defensive game.

NZ unfortunately couldn’t stop the slick Australians on attack and at half time the score was 6 – 2 to Australia.  More touchdowns than scored in the entire game yesterday.

The Touch Blacks dug deep in the second half and were able to post another 3 touchdowns to take their score to 5, however unfortunately Australia extended their lead to 10.  Final Score Aus 10, NZ 5.

NZ can take heart that they improved their attacking with closing out opportunities today, now tomorrow they need to tighten up defence.  Australia can be very proud of their defensive effort to keep NZ to 5 and to take the series out. Tomorrow NZ are playing for pride.

Men’s

Yesterday the Touch Blacks took the first win of the series and we always knew the Australian Men wouldn’t take that lying down.

Australia came out firing to avenge yesterday’s result.  The difference in the Australian team today was their ability take advantage of the small errors in the NZ game.  Yesterday NZ had those little things that make the difference go their way, tonight it was the little things that turned the game for them.

Halftime was 5.-3 and still anyone’s game.  The Touch Blacks staged a comeback but Australia always looked in control.  NZ looked slightly more tired in the second half tonight and came close to finish Aus 10 – NZ 8.

So tomorrow there is now the decider for the series.

Overall results

With NZ winning the Mixed today, losing the women’s series and losing the Men’s game they now have to win tomorrows Mixed and Men’s to take out the series.  They have the self belief and ability and now know they can do it.  Tomorrow will be a nail biting experience and one the crowds will thoroughly enjoy whichever way it goes.

Please contact Julie Monaghan if you’d like to attend and she can arrange media passes through the gate.  Ph 021 633 537