Kiwis Hammer Great
Britain in Game V

Tri-Nations Game 5
New Zealand 34 v Great Britain 4
at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Paul Simpkins

Match Summary:
The New Zealand Kiwis have hammered Great Britain 34-4 in Game Five of the Tri Nations to give themselves a very good chance of making the final. The Kiwis scored six tries to one in front of a crowd of 16,401.

After an untidy opening few minutes, both teams found themselves down to 12 men after a 10th minute fight. Steve Matai took exception to a tackle and got into a fist fight with Keith Senior, and both players found themselves in the sin bin for their efforts.

The Kiwis took advantage during the 10 minutes with reduced men and scored two tries. Nigel Vagana fooled the British defence with a big dummy from dummy half and forced his way over just a minute after the sin binnings. Four minutes later the Kiwis extended their lead with a brilliantly timed pass from Stacey Jones to Brent Webb who dotted down out wide, and the Kiwis were up 10-0.

Great Britain struck back quickly care of a trademark Manu Vatuvei error. The big winger fumbled a bomb that was recovered by Great Britain and Gareth Ellis dotted down in the corner, Long missed the conversion. Brent Webb collected a double for the Kiwis in the 26th minute after a steamed onto a Jones pass and dotted down under the posts. Great Britain ought to have been awarded a second try just before half time after Gareth Raynor appeared to have forced a Wellens grubber kick, however in a decision that will be talked about all week, he was ruled to have lost control of the ball, and the Kiwis were up 16-4 at half time.

The second half was, for the most part, one way traffic. Great Britain started the half in a chasing points mode, and this led to a number of errors. The Kiwis opened the second half scoring after 10 minutes after a Jones kick was recovered in the in goal by Nathan Cayless who claimed a try. The lead was extended to 28-4 after the Kiwis found space out wide, and Vatuvei picked up a try. The Kiwis final try was a ripper. Jones put in a chip kick that was almost exactly similar to that for the Cayless try, except the ball hit the crossbar and dropped right into the hands of Ruben Wiki who fell over to claim the Kiwis sixth try and the 30 point final margin.

The equation for next week is simple: If Great Britain win they make the final. If they lose the Kiwis will play in the final, due to New Zealand?s now superior points differential.

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Scorers:
New Zealand: 34
Tries: Nigel Vagana, Ruben Wiki, Brent Webb(2), Nathan Cayless, Manu Vatuvei
Goals: Stacey Jones 5/6
Great Britain: 4
Tries: Gareth Ellis
Goals: Sean Long 0/1

By the Clock:
Good evening from the Cake Tin in Wellington for the crucial New Zealand/Great Britain test match.

The Poms will no doubt still be celebrating their 23-12 victory over Australia last weekend, while the Kiwis will take what they can from their 34-4 victory over the New Zealand Residents last week.

This match is the biggest of the tournament. Great Britain are two competition points ahead of New Zealand in the race for a final berth. Should Great Britain win they will qualify for the final, if New Zealand win it is likely that Australias oppenent in the final will be determined in Brisbane.

Teams taking to the field now. Beautiful evening in Wellington.

Teams are lined up for the national anthems. Kick off very shortly.

Kiwis are performing the Haka now.

1 min: And we're off in front of a strong crowd.

1 min: The Kiwis put some offloads together and go very close to making a break, only to lose the ball.

2 min: Soliola makes a huge break only to pass the ball to Senior.

3 min: Great Britain go on attack and throw a poor pass that is recovered by the Kiwis.

4 min: One of the first tidy bits of play, Jones finds touch five metres out from the Great Britain line.

6 min: The Kiwis go on attack for the first time, great defence from GB.

9 min: Great Britain are penalised for obstruction while hot on attack.

10 min: FIGHT - Matai takes exception to a tackle and it results in a bit of push and shove that is still going on after the referee has called a player out.

10 min: SIN BIN - Steve Matai given a spell for his part in the fight.

10 min: SIN BIN - Keith Senior gets a sit down as well, Matai and Senior still having words.

11 min: VIDEO REF - For a Nigel Vagana try.

11 min: TRY New Zealand
Vagana gets the ball from dummy half, sends a huge dummy and forces his way down just to the right of the posts. Jones adds the extras and the Kiwis are up by 6.
New Zealand 6-0

13 min: Jones puts up a bomb and New Zealand recover but are unable to get the ball away.

15 min: TRY New Zealand
Magnificent play by the Kiwis, great interchange of passes and Jones puts Webb over out wide. Jones hits the posts after the ball constantly falls off the tee.
New Zealand 10-0

16 min: Weather degenerating, gusts of wind and dark clouds over the stadium.

20 min: TRY Great Britain
Vatuvei drops the ball from a bomb, Great Britain recovers and Ellis grabs a try. Somehow Senior was back on the field from his sinbinning before Matai, despite Senior being sent second. Long misses the goal.
New Zealand 10-4

26 min: The Kiwis get six more tackles hot on attack.

26 min: VIDEO REF - For a Brent Webb double.

26 min: INJURY - Webb has injured himself in scoring the try, appeared to be accidental knees to the side.

26 min: TRY New Zealand
Webb scorches onto a Jones pass and scores under the posts. He's no longer hurt. Jones converts.
New Zealand 16-4

28 min: GB throw the ball around on the last tackle and eventually make an error. A penalty puts the Kiwis right on attack.

30 min: The Kiwis force a line drop out.

32 min: VIDEO REF - For a highly unlikely Kiwis try...

32 min: NO TRY - Pritchard drops the ball with the line begging.

33 min: Sean Long back to his old tricks, a dreadful kick that goes dead without offering anything. Kiwis lose the ball on halfway.

35 min: Long drops the ball while GB are building an attack - a lack of attention.

37 min: The game is getting a bit untidy as we head towards halftime.

38 min: VIDEO REF - For a Great Britain try.

38 min: NO TRY - A horrible video referee decision robs Gareth Raynor of a certain try, he was ruled to have lost the ball in the in goal.

39 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL New Zealand
Jones attempts a field goal, the chase traps Wellens in goal for a drop out.
New Zealand 16-4

40 min: ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL New Zealand
Webb attempts a field goal right on halftime and misses it wide right.
New Zealand 16-4

Halftime, and the Kiwis are looking the much better side, despite that poor video referee decision.

Teams are back for the second half.

40 min: Back underway in Wellington!

42 min: Wellens takes a dangerous Jones bomb magnificently.

43 min: Great Britain spin the ball wide on the last and drop it.

46 min: Wilkin can't grab the ball to score a Great Britain try.

49 min: The Kiwis get six more tackles after GB fail to clean up a kick.

50 min: VIDEO REF - For a New Zealand try...

50 min: TRY New Zealand
Jones puts in a chip kick, the ball bobbles in the in goal and Cayless dots the ball down under the posts. Jones converts.
New Zealand 22-4

54 min: The Kiwis recover a chip kick and Cayless offloads the ball to Pritchard who makes a break and picks up a penalty.

55 min: TRY New Zealand
The Kiwis find space out wide and Vatuvei takes the ball around under the posts. Jones adds the extras, next week is huge.
New Zealand 28-4

63 min: Kiwis kick out on the full, the Kiwis appear to be slowing down.

66 min: VIDEO REF - For a Great Britain try...

66 min: NO TRY - Pryce is denied a try due to a blatant obstruction. We also have a streaker on the field.

67 min: Raynor fails to take a bomb, Long loses the ball forward into touch.

68 min: The Great Britain defence holds strong and force a poor pass, only to turn the ball over.

70 min: TRY New Zealand
Jones puts in another little chip kick, it bounces off the cross bar, Wiki goes up for the ball and dots down under the posts. Jones adds the extras.
New Zealand 34-4

73 min: Jones puts in a great kick and finds touch five metres out.

77 min: CROWD - 16,401

FULLTIME: The Kiwis win big to give themselves a huge chance of playing in the final.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Stacey Jones (Kiwis)
2 - Brent Webb (Kiwis)
1 - Nathan Cayless (Kiwis)
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