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FIJI VS AUSTRALIA A

FIJI vs AUSTRALIA A

Australia A hands Fiji crushing defeat

Australia A handed Fiji a crushing 80-9 defeat last night, posting 12 unanswered tries against the visitors at Melbourne’s Olympic Park.

Bundaberg Rum Man-of-the-Match Cameron Shepherd and captain John Roe each bagged a double, while replacement winger Drew Mitchell scored a hat trick after coming on in the second half.

Shepherd, whose personal tally for the night was two tries and 10 conversions was a standout for Australia A for the second consecutive week, the fullback making his presence felt all over the park in attack and defence and through a strong kicking game.

Home grown crowd favourite Digby Ioane was also on song and had a hand in the opening tries in both halves. Ioane also scored his own five-pointer in the 26th minute, weaving his way past three defenders to cross the line.

A penalty try to Australia A, awarded when Fiji intentionally struck down the ball and a try to Ben Tune, who found space to score next to the posts just before half time, put Australia A in the lead 35-9 at the break.

While Fiji started well, playing their trademark fast and disruptive game in patches, Australia A proved the more disciplined side, the home team handing a painful lesson to the visitors when the scoreline blew out in the second half.

Australia A’s forwards proved instrumental in their side’s points haul, consistently setting a solid platform for the backs to work from and offloading plenty of quality ball that led to several tries, as well as keeping the opposition tryless through their defence.

At the lineout Will Caldwell put in a strong performance, while Wycliff Palu and James Horwill were also key in securing possession for Australia.

The only setback for Australia A during the match was flyhalf Sam Norton-Knight being forced from the field early in the second half due to an AC joint shoulder injury.

Match Statistics

9		80
Fiji		Australia A
Date: Saturday 22 Jul 2006 Venue: Olympic Park, Melbourne Crowd: 6334 Half-time: 9-35 Referee: Paul Marks (Australia) Touch judges: Daniel Cheever, Pat Rae (Australia( Fiji Game Number: 599

						FIJI		AUSTRALIA A
Card	PTS	D	P	C	T	PLAYER	V	PLAYER	T	C	P	D	PTS	Card
	9	-	3	-	-	Tora, Jo	15	Cameron Shepherd	1	-	-	-	5
	0	-	-	-	-	Tuilevu, Jeremaiya	14	Digby Iaone	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Ratuvou, Kameli	13	Ben Tune	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Ratu, Jonetani	12	Gene Fairbanks	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Luveitasau, Mosese	11	Adam Ashley-Cooper	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Nalawaniavi, Iliesa	10	Sam Norton-Knight	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Daunivucu, Jone	9	Josh Holmes	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Qovu, Jone	8	Wycliff Palu	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Doviverata, Alifereti	7	Richard Brown	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Salabogi, Kini	6	John Roe (capt)	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Naevo, Apenisa	5	James Horwill	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Lewaravu, Wame	4	Will Caldwell	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Nagi, Apisai	3	Rodney Blake	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Koto, Sunia	2	Stephen Moore	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Bale, Jo	1	Al Baxter	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-		16	Matt Dunning	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Rabukawaqa, Tevita	17	James McCormack	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Vasuitoga, Mosese	18	Mitchell Chapman	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Qera, Akapusi	19	David Croft	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Rauluni, Jacob	20	Brett Sheehan	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Talei, Netani	21	Morgan Turinui	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Ruivadra, Epeli	22	Drew Mitchell	-	-	-	-	0
Coach: Wayne Pivac								Coach: Laurie Fisher

Key:

Captain
Yellow Card
Red Card
Sub In
Sub Out
Bloodbin

Scoring Sequence

05 min - TRY for Australia A by Cameron Shepherd 0-5
05 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 0-7
08 min - PEN GOAL for Fiji by Tora, Jo 3-7
11 min - PEN GOAL for Fiji by Tora, Jo 6-7
14 min - PEN TRY for Australian "A" by N/A 6-12
14 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 6-14
17 min - PEN GOAL for Fiji by Tora, Jo 9-14
26 min - TRY for Australian "A" by Digby Iaone 9-19
26 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-21
34 min - TRY for Australian "A" by John Roe 9-26
34 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-28
39 min - TRY for Australian "A" by Ben Tune 9-33
39 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-35
Half-Time
44 min - TRY for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-40
44 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-42
49 min - TRY for Australian "A" by Drew Mitchell 9-47
49 min - CONVERSION MISSED for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-47
55 min - TRY for Australian "A" by Drew Mitchell 9-52
55 min - CONVERSION MISSED for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-52
60 min - TRY for Australian "A" by Wycliff Palu 9-57
60 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-59
68 min - TRY for Australian "A" by John Roe 9-64
68 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-66
71 min - TRY for Australian "A" by David Croft 9-71
71 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-73
78 min - TRY for Australian "A" by Drew Mitchell 9-78
78 min - CONVERSION for Australian "A" by Cameron Shepherd 9-80
Full-Time