By Carey Clements – Secretary of NZ Universities and Tertiary Students Rugby League
England Universities 42 New Zealand Students 4
LD Nutrition Stadium, Featherstone
Saturday 19th May 2018, 2.15pm KO
In glorious summer conditions, New Zealand Students first visit to England since their 2013 World Cup semi-final, started with all the hallmarks of an international game, with both the visitors and their England Universities counterparts slugging it out in the opening salvo. England’s front row of Jed Mawdsley and Lewis Taylor going hammer and tongue against the Kiwis’ Mona Sio and Rikki Allan.
England built pressure, using the advantage of the slope, and eventually Lewis Fairhurst danced his way through the black shirts to chalk up England’s first points of the day, with Ben Stead on target with the conversion.
Another sustained period flowing play from both sides followed, before Nathan Ainsworth was rewarded with England camped out on New Zealand’s line, with Nathan Ainsworth burrowing over from close range to nose the home side again. Stead added the extras to stretch the advantage. England were finding their groove and, with a play straight out of the Harlem Globe Trotters handbook, James Mason palmed the ball between his legs to Jason Bass who found Harry Chapman out. Half Time Score: 18-0.
It took just one minute of the second half for Chapman to score his second try, Jason Bass creating the space for Chapman to sail through the wing. Stead found his mark from out wide.ut wide to push the home side ahead at the break, Stead again successful with the boot.
New Zealand responded, using the slope to their advantage, with Rory Ropati rampaging into the England defence, inspiring his colleagues to lift their game, but they could not breach some excellent scrambling defence.
Chapman completed his hat-trick in a carbon copy move of his earlier try, with Stead landing the conversion, with full back Harry Aaronson, again with a Stead conversion, finishing a flowing move .Although England were tiring, their defensive effort remained strong, weathering the Kiwi storm.
New Zealand always looked dangerous with Michael Hollis getting his nose through the line on a number of occasions. Ben Stead capped an excellent afternoon with a try of his own, backing up a downfield break by Fairhurst, supported by Aaronson which he converted himself 20 minutes later to see England move 30 points up with just 15 minutes of the second half played.
England seemed to fade in the final quarter, with the heat and the slope going against them. New Zealand continued to pressure and were rewarded when Destry Tamai crossed for a consolation try in the 67th minute. The remainder of the game ended as it began with both sides trading some big plays, with excellent spirit showed by both sides.
Final Score: 42-4. England Universities: Harry Aaronson, Harry Chapman, Jason Bass, Matt Chrimes, Lee Registe, Lewis Fairhurst, Ben Stead, Jed Mawdsley, Will Jubb, Lewis Taylor, Marcus Stock, James Mason, Ryan Langton. Interchanges: Luke Stephens, Nathan Ainsworth, Conner MacCallum, Ben Gray, Munashe Fumhanda New Zealand Students: Ben Tunnicliff, Jordan Stuart, Mitchell Ropati, Isaac Robinson, Josh Mckenzie, Kane Telea, George Ropati, Mona Sio, Destry Tamai, Rikki Allan, Jason Whareaitu, Rory Ropati, Jake Cussack. Interchanges: Michael Hollis, Jong Hoon Lee, Jeremy Suilepa, Cameron Walters, Matt Filipo
Referee: Harry Neville
England Scorers: Tries: Lewis Fairhurst (16), Nathan Ainsworth (32), Harry Chapman (38, 41, 52), Harry Aaronson (55), Ben Stead (60). Goals: Ben Stead 7/7 New Zealand Scorers: Tries: Destry Tamai (67) Goals: 0/1