The Kangaroos show their class

A demolition job by the Kangaroos over the disappointing Kiwis sees the home side take the win at Aussie Stadium in front of 30,605 fans by 48-6.

Both teams started well and for the first fifteen minutes the battle was very even with neither side getting the advantage. An early try to the Kiwis was disallowed.

With Tallis leaving the field early in the game, the Kangaroos seemed to pick up the pace and from then on, the game turned to favour the Australians and they never looked back.

Five tries in 25 minutes had the Kangaroos ahead at the break by 30-0 over a Kiwi side that at times were playing with little heart or strength.

With the loss of Jones and Vaealiki early in the second half, then Utai later on, the Kiwi bench of 4 forwards found themselves in unusual positions.

All the credit goes tonight to the Australian side. A professional side playing in a professional manner, a pleasure to watch.

The Kiwis and their new coach will have to regroup before the next test in October.

Scorers: KANGAROOS 48 Tries: Sing 2, Tate 2, Lyon 2, Mason, Hegarty, Wing Goals: Johns (6/9) defeated KIWIS 6 Tries: Swain Goals: Swain (1/1)

Leagueunlimited players of the match:

3 - S Webcke (Aus) 2 - L Ricketson (Aus) 1 - A Johns (Aus)

Friday 25 July 2003 7:30 PM Aussie Stadium Crowd - 30,605 Referee: Bill Harrigan

Scorers: KANGAROOS Tries: Sing 2, Tate 2, Lyon 2, Mason, Hegarty, Wing Goals: Johns (6/9) KIWIS Tries: Swain Goals: Swain (1/1)

By the clock:

The Kangaroos looking smart in their commemorative striped yellow and gold shirt, similar to the one worn 85 years ago. The traditional haka from the Kiwis is as fierce as ever. The stage is set for eighty minutes of fast and furious football between these two passionate sides.

0 min: KICK OFF!

1st min: NEWS - Johns (Aus) kicks early in the tackle count, almost a 40/20 but Vaealiki knocks to ball in field to get possession

3rd min: NEWS - Timmins (Aus) puts the ball high to the wing on the 5th tackle. No one wants it, and Aus throws it round on the last, only to finally turn possession over

4th min: NEWS - Video ref denies Swann (NZ) a try, deemed to have a 2 in the tackle strip on Sing with Vagana close to the Kiwis line. Penalty to Aus

7th min: NEWS - Aus attacking well. A line dropout sets them up but the kick on the last is too strong. No score as yet in the game

13th min: NEWS - Tallis (Aus) off with what appears to be a knee injury after a clash with Webcke. Fletcher on as a replacement

15th min: NEWS - Very even contest with both sides making breaks only to have the defence shut them down

16th min: TRY - Sing for Aus. The play started with a good break from the Kiwi tryline by Minichiello. A penalty helps Aus closer to their line. Great hands by the Kangaroos to spread the ball wide. Sing gets the ball, manages a juggle, and is over for the try. Johns from 21 metres out, gets the conversion. Aus 6-0

21st min: TRY - Tate for Aus. Quick plays in their set and Johns chips it over the defence on the last tackle. Vaealiki caught out of position and Tate score a good try. Johns gets the conversion. Aus 12-0

29th min: NEWS - The Kiwis defence is holding but unfortunately their attack is lacking a bit of sting and the Kangaroo defence is having no trouble wrapping them up

31st min: TRY - Lyon for Aus. A brilliant offload by Webcke on the halfway mark, while having 3 defenders on him, gets the ball to Lyon with only his Eels team mate to beat, Vaealiki. Johns gets the easy kick. Aus 18-0

33rd min: TRY - Mason for Aus. Wing starts the play against the soft defence. A hole a mile wide opens up for Mason. Once again only the Kiwi fullback to beat. Johns gets another conversion. Aus 24-0

39th min: TRY - Lyon for Aus. Vagana (Kiwis) penalised close to the Aus line for a strip after the tackle was finished. Deciding to run the ball, the Kangaroos use their decoy runner very well and Lyon is over out wide. Johns gets the conversion. Aus 30-0

HALFTIME.

41st min: NEWS - Vagana (Kiwis) very close to scoring in the very first minute of the second half. He does a little chip for himself but cannot regather the ball

44th min: TRY - Tate for Aus. Tate skips around the defence and runs 90 metres down the right hand side. Wiki and Vaealiki try in vain to catch him. Johns adds another 2 points

45th min: NEWS - The news doesn't get any better for the Kiwis. Jones is off the field with a groin strain. Vaealiki is out playing with an injury as there are no replacements.

46th min: NEWS - Vaealiki now off with a corked thigh. Swain to halfback, Galuvao to the centres, and Vagana to fullback

52nd min: NEWS - The Kiwis get their first penalty of the match after Galuvao was tackled without the ball

53rd min: TRY - Swain for Kiwis. Not enough numbers out wide for the Kangaroos following the tap by the Kiwis. Swain spies the gap and is in. Swain from out in front, gets the conversion. Aus 36-6

57th min: TRY - Sing for Aus. Another double to the Australian players. Patient and steady play by the Kangaroos, and the Kiwi defence is once again stretched. Sing over out wide for his second. Johns misses his first conversion. Aus 40-6

61st min: NEWS - Late call by the officials gets Kearney (Kiwis) placed on report for a high shot on Bailey

70th min: TRY - Hegarty for Aus. A steal by Sing sets up play for the Kangaroos. Throwing the ball along the line, sometimes a bit sloppy, Hegarty gets the reward he deserves. Johns from the sideline, misses the conversion. Aus 44-6

71st min: NEWS - Utai (Kiwis) to the sideline with a shoulder injury. With a bench of forwards, it seems all the Kiwi injuries are in the backs

78th min: TRY - Wing for Aus. Very soft defence on Wing after a player rushes up and misses the tackle and is made to pay. John from 9 metres out, misses his 3rd kick in a row. Aus 48-6

FULL TIME: In the end only one side in the game