AUSTRALIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS RUGBY LEAGUE – V FRANCE U/19YRS TEAM

Stade des Minimes, Toulouse. Thursday, 16 December 2010

Result

AUSTRALIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS 46 (J Gagan 3, J Tedesco 2, T Jennings, J Wighton, V Tia Kilifi, P Carter, tries; H Siejka 5 goals) defeated France Under 19yrs 18

Half-time score: Australia 26-12

Penalties: Australia 7, France 5

Completions: Australia 22/30 (73%): France 16/21 (76%)

Crowd: 527

France opened the scoring after six minutes by turning good field position into a well constructed try by their No 10. The conversion made the score 6-0. In the 9^th minute good momentum from the forwards allowed room for the backs to create some clever plays to put Jacob Gagan over in the corner. Gagan went on to score the next two tries to complete his hat trick by the 19^th minute, and to take Australia to a 14-6 lead. France hit back in the 25^th minute with a fine display of skill to score a converted try and reduce the deficit to 14-12.

However, a mistake by France allowed Australia to pounce on an overlap down the short side to see James Tedesco cross in the corner. Paul Carter scored the last try of the first half in the 33^rd minute when he handled twice in a movement after a Lachlan Burr break. Carter’s try was converted by Harry Siejka to give Australia a half time lead of 26-12.

A French knock on from the kick off allowed Australia to attack, and they used well structured play to pressure the French defence. Vaipuna Tia Kilifi ran an excellent line from a Jack Wighton pass to score under the posts. Harry Siejka’s conversion made the score 32-12. In the next eight minutes, a heavy tackle on Sam Irwin, which led to him being stretchered from the field, and a big hit by Jacob Gagan, heightened the physical intensity of the game.

A good try from France in the 52^nd minute reduced the deficit to 32-18, however Australia hit back four minutes later with a Trent Jennings try following a Lachlan Burr break. Harry Siejka again converted for a 38-18 lead. Three minutes later, three good runs in a row allowed Jack Wighton room to throw a big dummy and score for a 42-18 lead.

James Tedesco completed the scoring in the 69^th minute after Paul Carter made a break. Australia capitalised on superior numbers to the left, and Tedesco scored in the corner. The final score of 46-18 completed their victory.

The six match tour finished with Australia being victors in four of their six matches, and the team will return to Australia acknowledging the quality of the opposition they have encountered, which is testimony to the development work being undertaken in England, Wales and France.

For further information contact : Grant Edwards (ASSRL) +33 06 35162169 or John Coates (ARL) 0412008505.