By Francis Taylor – presenter Radio Cardiff Tuesday Night Sport Show.
International Rugby League returned to the bright lights of London
last weekend when Wembley Stadium played host to a double-header in the Four
Nations championship 2011. Wales took on
New Zealand in the opening fixture and with the Kiwis 250-1 on to win, few
expected much from the young Welsh side, especially after a heavy defeat to
England a week earlier. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 22-50
Kiwi victory at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, a result Wales would be keen
to avoid. However, despite a final score which appears on the surface to give
the impression of an easy win, the Kiwis were made to work by a determined
Welsh defence.
Wales got off to the worst possible start, however, with an
early try from Jason Nightingale who got on the end of a kick-through and
touched down in the corner; 0-4. The following 9 minutes saw Wales continually
on the defensive as wave after wave of crunching Kiwi attacks reined in on the
line. This pressure led to a second New Zealand try courtesy of full back,
Kevin Locke, the first of two in the match for the inspirational young player;
0-8. Wales gathered themselves together
and could have scored a try of their own had handling in the final tackle been
more accurate. They were duly punished
in the 30th minute as second row, Sika Manu, touched down in the far
corner to take the score to 0-12. This
try was converted brilliantly by Kiwi captain, Benji Marshall; 0-14.
More opportunities for Wales came and went. Despite Kiwi
errors and a penalty count hugely in favour of the Welsh, a try never
materialised as chance after chance went begging. Utility back, Elliot Kear, played a blinder
throughout the entire match and was at the root of each move Wales made towards
the Kiwi line. Before the half time
hooter sounded Wales were once again made to pay for their inability to score
as first, Sika Manu (30 mins) and then Gerard Beale (39 mins) scored to
increase the Kiwis advantage yet further; both tries were converted by
Marshall. Half time score Wales 0 - New Zealand 26.
The cynics were now out in force across the social networks,
including Twitter where one post likened Iestyn Harris’ squad to a ‘pub team’.
Well, never write of the Welsh (we know that from both rugby codes) and never
write off a side brimming with young talent, many of whom were out to impress
clubs in the close season. I cannot sit
here as I write this report on the train back to south Wales and say I didn’t
expect the floodgates to open and the Kiwis to run rampant in the second
half. In fact, I’ll be honest and say I
predicted the Kiwis to rack up 50 points.
However, I always believed Wales would score. As it turned out, I was wrong on both counts,
so I won’t be giving up my day job just yet!
The second half began much like the first with the Kiwis
dominating the early exchanges and the Welsh having to defend. Then, the game turned in Wales’ favour through
Kiwi mistakes and great passing skill.
Yet again, however, chances went begging and despite 15 minutes of
sustained pressure on the Kiwi line, no tries were scored. Worse was to follow as two more unanswered tries
were scored by New Zealand; the first a second from Gerard Beale (duly
converted by Benji Marshall), and then substitute Nathan Fien touched down in
the far corner. With six minutes left to play the score stood at 0-36 and so it
was to remain despite a last gasp attempt by Wales to touch down after they
were awarded two penalties within 10m of the Kiwi try line. Final score Wales 0
– New Zealand 36.
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