Australian schools side falls to Fijian President's XV

Mon, Sep 24, 2012, 2:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

On a hot afternoon at Prince Charles Park, Nadi, Fiji the Australian Schools team were defeated 18-9 by a spirited Fijian President’s XV in the first match of their five-match tour on Saturday 22 September.

The Australians seemed a little over awed with the occasion having 10 players running on for the first time in the Australian jumper and right from the outset the home side applied pressure on the visitors.

Some impressive defence from Australia’s Lolo Fakasealea ensured the Fijians weren’t the first to put points on the board and in the seventh minute the Australians found themselves 0-3 up after a successful penalty goal attempt from Tom Wilson.

Fiji hit back just three minutes later with a penalty goal of their own to lock the scores up at 3–3, which is how the scores stayed after the remaining 30-minutes of the half was dominated by solid defence.

The Australians began the second half with tremendous application and spirit, however after working their way in to the Fijians territory an intercept try to the home side saw them race out to a 10-3 lead.

Australia closed the gap shortly after with their second penalty goal of the match to make it 10-6.

The Fijians continued to apply pressure as the match wore and eventually broke the Australian defence for a second time crashing over in the 67th minute to extend their lead to nine points.

The Australians weren’t finished and a penalty goal shortly after kept the visitors hopes alive after they narrowed the gap to less than a converted try and at 15-9 were certainly not out of the match.

Despite some more hard defence work in the final minutes the Australians couldn’t muster any more points and an after-the-siren penalty to Fiji saw the home side run out victors 18-9.

The Australian Schools side will now regroup for its second match of the tour, when they meet Fijian Schools on Tuesday 25 September.

They will then travel to New Zealand to face the New Zealand Barbarians on 29 September, Samoan Schools on 2 October and finally New Zealand Schools on 6 October.

Australian Schools 9 - Fijian President's XV 18.

Australian Schools penalty goals - Tom Wilson (3).

Australian Schools side vs Fijian President's XV

1

Tomas Robertson

St. Joseph’s College

NSW

2

Tom Wilson (C)

Barker College

NSW

3

Matt Sandell

St. Joseph’s College

NSW

4

Tom Staniforth

Canberra Grammar School

ACT

5

Jack Cornelsen

Brisbane Grammar School

QLD

6

Adam Korczyk

Brisbane State High School

QLD

7

Brad Wilkin

Iona College

QLD

8

Lolo Fakaosilea

Brisbane Boys College

QLD

9

Andrew Ferris

The Kings School

NSW

10

Reece Hodge

Manly Selective High School

NSW

11

Andrew Kellaway

The Scots College

NSW

12

Tepai Moeroa

Newington College

NSW

13

Andrew Robinson

St Mary MacKillop College

ACT

14

Gareth Kalell

Brisbane Boys College

QLD

15

John Porch

Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School

NSW

Reserves

16

Siotame Kavapalu

Rowville Secondary College

VIC

17

Francois Postal

St. Joseph’s College, Nudgee

QLD

18

Neori Nadruku

St Edmunds College

ACT

19

Mitchell Whiteley

St. Ignatius’ College

NSW

20

Jack Dempsey

St. Ignatius’ College

NSW

21

Angus Pulver

Shore School

NSW

22

Jack Tuttle

St. Joseph’s College, Nudgee

QLD

23

Jonah Placid

Toowoomba Grammar School

QLD

Staff

Manager

Paul Geddes

Central Coast Grammar School

NSW

Coach

Steve Phillpotts

Brisbane Boys College

QLD

Asst Coach

Tim Rapp

Newington College

NSW

Asst Manager

John Rownes

Knox Grammar School

NSW

Skills coach

Andy Clark

Australian Rugby Union

ACT

S and C

Darren Clunn

Australian Rugby Union

ACT

Physiotherapist

Will Maher

ACT

Doctor

Dr Michael McLean

QLD

Australian Schools Tour Schedule 2012

Date

Opponent

Venue-Kickoff

22 September

Fijian President’s XV (def. Australian Schools 18-9)

Prince Charles Park, Nadi – 3:30pm (FJT)

25 September

Fijian Schools

Churchill Stadium, Lautoka – 3:30pm (FJT)

29 September

New Zealand Barbarians

Sacred Heart College, Auckland – 12:45pm (NZST)

2 October

Samoan Schools

St. Paul’s Collegiate School, Hamilton – 2:30pm (NZST)

6 October

New Zealand Schools

Auckland Grammar, Auckland – 2:45pm (NZST)

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