Kangaroos win ANZAC test in style

The Newcastle crowd gave a warm reception to the Kiwis and the Kangaroos with the Kangaroos defeating the Kiwis by 37-10.

The Kiwis were down to a 2 man bench for most of the first half with both Nathan Cayless and Robbie Paul suffering injuries to their heads, however managing to come back into the game in the second half.

A tough, tight battle ensued in the first half with the game very close at the break, 11-10 to the Kangaroos following a drop goal to Lockyer right on halftime. The difference in the first 40 minutes being the number of tackles the Kiwis had to make.

That became the telling factor and ten minutes into the second half, the flood gates opened for the Kangaroos and never closed until the final whistle, with the Australians scoring five unanswered tries and quickly putting the game out of reach for the tired Kiwi pack.

A lot of unforced errors by both sides however a shocking game by Nigel Vagana and Francis Meli at the back for the Kiwis meant the mistakes by the Kiwis were in the wrong part of the field and they were made to pay.

A fine game by the Kangaroos halfback Craig Gower and Darren Lockyer at five-eighth, giving the Kangaroos a lot of direction when required. Certainly an outstanding effort by them in the second half and deserved winners and are handed back the Trans Tasman trophy.

EnergyAustralia Stadium Referee: Sean Hampstead Video Referee: Tim Mander Touch Judges: Steve Carrall (Aus), Craig Pascoe (NZ)

Scorers: KANGAROOS 37 Tries: Minichiello, Tahu, Tate, Lockyer, Gower, De Vere, Crocker Goals: De Vere 4/7, Lockyer 1/1 defeated KIWIS 10 Tries: Kidwell, Vainikolo Goals: Faumuina 1/2

By the clock: A great crowd in Newcastle for this the first international test match in 2004. The Kiwis the underdogs, time will tell how they go against the favouritism of the Kangaroos. Tears in the eyes of some of the Kiwis during their anthem, the pride is there.

0 min: Formalities out of the way, it's kick off!!

1st min: NEWS - A mistake by Vagana and J Cayless from the kick off, and the Kangaroos have great field position. The Kiwis survive the set of six by the Kangaroos

4th min: NEWS - Nathan Cayless (Kiwis) off the field early injured following a head clash with his brother Jason. Jerry Seuseu replaces him

7th min: TRY - Kidwell for Kiwis. From the Kangaroo tryline, the Kiwis move the ball forward. A break by Leuluai sets up Kidwell nicely to score under the posts. Faumuina converts. Kiwis 6-0

10th min: NEWS - Mistakes by both sides as the defence piles on the pressure

11th min: TRY - Minichiello for Kangaroos. A great flick back by Webcke on the 60 metre mark. Minichiello runs 50 metres with the Kiwis running with him,carries a Kiwi with him over the line. De Vere misses the conversion. Kiwis 6-4

15th min: NEWS - Robbie Paul sandwiched in a tackle between Buderus and Minichiello and is in Disneyland, out cold. Recovering from a broken nose, he looks pretty sick but walking. Latu on to replace him

18th min: TRY - Vainikolo for Kiwis. A mistake by Minichiello close to the Kiwi line and the scrum feed is to the Kiwis. Quick ball out to the wing and Vainikolo goes over the top of Tahu to score. Faumuina from 2 metres in from touch, kicks a shocker. Kiwis 10-4

25th min: NEWS - Sonny Bill Williams makes his debut for the Kiwis, and starts well with a great tackle

25th min: TRY - Tahu for Kangaroos. Gidley runs down the short side, puts a great chip past the defence for his Newcastle team mate to score. De Vere nails a great conversion from the sideline. 10 all

28th min: NEWS - Lockyer (Kangaroos) kicks a 40/20. Great attacking opportunity for the Kangaroos

35th min: NEWS - Both sides popping up the errors on attack. A tough match so far as the score indicates

37th min: NEWS - The Kiwis bomb a certain try. Toopi makes a great run but doesn't pass the ball and is swamped by the defence close to the line. A try goes begging. 10 all

40th min: DROP GOAL - Lockyer seals the lead for the first time for the Kangaroos with a drop goal from 40 metres out.

HALFTIME: A very even contest with a few tired players out there, more so with the Kiwis down to a 2 man bench. Kangaroos sneak in to lead 11-10

HALFTIME STATS:

Errors: Kangaroos 6 - Kiwis 7 Completion: Kangaroos 70% - Kiwis 61% Tackles: Kangaroos 90 - Kiwis 136 Mistackles: Kangaroos 15 - Kiwis 17 Penalties: Kangaroos 3 - Kiwis 4 Line breaks: 3 a piece

41st min: NEWS - Second half underway with news that Tahu is out of the rest of the game with a hamstring injury suffered when scoring his first half try

45th min: NEWS - Back to back sets for the Kangaroos and the Kiwi defence holds on their line. An intercept by Toopi has him flying away from the line. Passing early to Vainikolo, he is smothered by the defence on halway and slung out over the touch line. Kangaroos lead 11-10

50th min: NEWS - Nathan Cayless back on the field for the first time since the head clash with his brother in the 4th minute of the match

52nd min: TRY - Tate for Kangaroos. Lockeyers fires a perfect pass out wide when he sees the defence not set. Toopi chases a flying Tate to no avail and Tate is over in the corner. De Vere misses the tricky conversion. Kangaroos 15-10

55th min: TRY - Lockyer for Kangaroos. Hindmarsh takes the ball to the line with 5 Kiwis hanging off him. Two plays later and Gower chips through for Vagana to bomb the pick up and Lockyer is there to score. A hint of Lockyer being offside, but Hampstead awards the try without using the video ref. De Vere converts from out in front. Kangaroos 21-10

61st min: NEWS - Robbie Paul back on for the Kiwis. Vagana is having a shocker at fullback for the Kiwis, and is being targeted

64th min: TRY - Gower for Kangaroos. A simple case of wrong footing the tired opposition and Gower scores under the posts. The floodgates have opened. De Vere from out in front adds 2 points. Kangaroos 27-10

70th min: TRY - De Vere for Kangaroos. A mistake this time by Meli for the Kiwis, following the kick from Gower on the fifth tackle. Gower picks up from the error and gets the ball out to De Vere who scores in the corner but is unable to convert his try. Kangaroos 31-10

75th min: NEWS - The Kiwis have not given up but are very tired as the Kangaroos are quite happy going through the motions with a lead of 31-10

77th min: NEWS - The Kangaroos close to scoring again, Lockyer goes head first into the padding surrounding the post and loses the ball

80th min: Crocker for Kangaroos. A great finish to the game for the Kangaroos. Shifting the ball wide, once again Lockyer's passing is spot on and Crocker is over unopposed. De Vere finishes the match with the conversion. Kangaroos win 37-10

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - D Lockyer (Kangaroos) 2 - C Gower (Kangaroos) 1 - D Buderus (Kangaroos) -----------------------------------------