Win record intact for Kiwis

Press, 6 December 1985, Page 36

Win record intact for Kiwis

NZPA special correspondent BRUCE MONTGOMERIE Bordeaux The New Zealand rugby league team heads towards its last match in France, the second . test at Perpignan, with an unbeaten record after defeating a combined Aquitaine-Provence side, 2210, at Bordeaux yesterday. The Kiwis were given a fright by the combined French team when they trailed, 4-0, and lost a 10-4 second half lead.

Howie Tairiati, aged 31, the Kiwis’ most experienced man, led them in one of their best comebacks in his last match for New Zealand. New Zealand was lucky not to be further behind than 4-0 at half-time, after shocking passing and bad handling. The combined side landed two early long penalty goals from the boot of the fullback, Piredda, but he failed with a third 45-metre attempt. ..... The pressure came off the Kiwis when they scored two tries in three'minutes in the second half. '/• The first wing, Shane Horo, scored after Owen Wright delayed a pass and Wright barged over for Olsen Filipaina to convert, and put New Zealand ahead, 10-4. But midway through the spell the French centre, Maury, crawled over after being ankle tapped by Mark

Bourneville. Piredda landed his third goal to level the score. The fullback, Vaun O’Callaghan, flew over after Martin Crequer broke through, and Filipaina’s conversion put the Kiwis into what appeared to be a safe lead. Two minutes later a French player touched down under the posts from typical unorthodox French passing, only to have the final pass ruled forward. The Kiwis are unbeaten in their last nine tour matches. Try scorers for New Zealand were Horo, Wright, O’Callaghan and Mark Elia, with' Filipaina landing three conversions from three attempts. Filipaina made a difference to the Kiwi attack in the second half after coming on as a second row forward at' halftime. He and Wright, put sting into the forward pack,’ and Sam Stewart also had good penetration. Mark Elia and Brent Todd have been’ named reserves for the Kiwi team to play France in the second rugby league test and world cup match, on Sunday morning (New Zealand time). The left wing, Dane O’Hara, was still in doubt with an injured shoulder. Adrian Shelford and Bourneville suffered leg injuries in yesterday’s match.