Universities World Cup Scores –Round 2
Sunshine bathed Griffith University’s
Nathan campus for the second day of the Universities World Cup on Wednesday,
which was a welcome relief for tournament organisers after the opening day’s
torrential rain.
With Tuesday’s Round 2 matches held over to
Wednesday due to Brisbane’s recent poor weather, a larger crowd of 600 were on
hand to witness what was an entertaining day’s rugby league.
The small but vocal crowd who braved
Brisbane’s chilly conditions were treated to some enthralling football, with
joint tournament favourites Australia and New Zealand unleashing some
breathtaking football on a much drier track.
In the match of the day, host nation
Australia raced in eleven tries on their way to recording a 58-0 thrashing of
an overwhelmed Scotland.
Australia’s talented backline cut swathes
through the Scottish defence, with co-captain and lock Drew Dalton finishing
with a personal haul of sixteen points, while five-eighth Brogan Gibson
continued his impressive form with another stand-out performance.
The Australians shot out to an early 18-0
lead before the Scots knew what had hit
them, with fullback Matt Church notching up his hat-trick of tries
before the half-time break.
Try as they might, the Scots just could not
contain the size and skill of the Australians, with the Kangaroos racing in a
further three tries for a 32-0 half-time advantage.
Australia never let up in the second half,
piling on another five tries to move to the top of Pool A, with Brad Horder
capping off an excellent second half, crossing for a try-scoring double.
Australia’s final pool match against Greece
is scheduled for Saturday night at Langlands Park, Brisbane.
In the afternoon’s opening match, two late
tries to utility Kristian Hodson saw England scrape away with a hard fought
22-20 victory over a spirited Greece outfit.
An 80-metre intercept by Greek centre York
Antoniou just after half-time looked to have sealed an upset victory from the
tournaments debutant nation, but committed defence and the hard running of Hodson
and prop Neil Cherryholme secured England their first competition points.
France secured their first points of the
tournament with a spiteful 11-2 victory over a plucky Irish outfit in the third
match of the evening.
French winger Frederic Marcerou proved the
difference between the two sides, booting three penalty goals and a late field
goal to resign Ireland back-to-back defeats, with the judiciary sure to be kept
busy with two players sent off for their involvement in a wild all-in brawl in
the games closing stages.
The final match between New Zealand and
Wales was a gripping affair, with the match in the balance for most of the
second half before the Kiwis crossed for three late tries to come away with a
28-10 victory.
With the scores locked at 8-all at the main
break, New Zealand grabbed an early ascendancy through a try to fullback Scott
Hurrell, but their electric backline was kept in check by some committed Welsh
defence.
But the power of the Kiwis saw them finish
the stronger team, with Danny Maera, Laupepa Pasene and Rema Smith all crossing
in the final ten minutes to complete a convincing six tries to two victory.
The Universities World Cup continues on
Saturday at Pizzey Park, Burleigh Heads and Langlands Park, Brisbane.
Round
3 World Cup Matches
Saturday
12 July
France
v Wales at Pizzey Park, Burleigh Heads, 11am
New
Zealand v Ireland at Pizzey Park, Burleigh Heads, 12.45pm
Australia
v Greece at Langlands Park, Brisbane, 5pm
Scotland
v England at Langlands Park, Brisbane, 7pm
University World Cup Scores - Round 2
Pool A
England 22 (Kristian Hodson 2,
Michael Johnson, Anthony Jerram tries; Mark McKinley 3 goals)
Defeated
Greece 20 (Michael Giorgas, David
Georgiou, York Antoniou, Kosta Kouparitsis tries; York Antoniou 2 goals)
Australia 58 (Matt Church 3, Brad
Horder 2, Nathan Mossman, Dean Bannerman, Eugene Seddon, Brogan Gibson,
Johnathan Crawley, Drew Dalton tries; Drew Dalton 6, Brogan Gibson goals)
Defeated
Scotland 0
At
Griffith University, Brisbane
Standings after round two: Australia
4, Greece 2, England 2, Scotland 0
Pool B
France 11 (Cyril Capella try;
Frederic Marcerou 3 goals and field goal)
Defeated
Ireland 2 (Daniel Pyke goal)
New Zealand 28 (Royaldo Leoni, Paul
Atkins, Scott Hurrell, Danny Maera, Laupepa Pasene, Rema Smith tries; Scott
Hurrell 2 goals)
Defeated
Wales 10 (Rob Worrincly,
Christian Roets tries; Gareth David goal)
At
Griffith University, Brisbane
Standings after round two: New
Zealand 4, Wales 2, France 2, Ireland 0