ALBANY, 17 October 2004 — New Zealand and Australia’s opening Tri-Nations rugby league Test ended in a 16-16 draw yesterday after a pulsating encounter at North Harbor Stadium. In only the second draw between the trans-Tasman rivals in 102 Tests, both sides scored three tries and the match ended with desperate drop goal attempts at each end.
In wet and windy conditions, New Zealand defied their underdog tag and made an impassioned start.
They were rewarded five minutes into the came when Vinnie Anderson crossed after being set up by an interchange of passing between half-back Thomas Leuluia and skipper Ruben Wiki and a long ball from fullback Brent Webb.
It was Anderson’s third try in two Tests at North Harbor Stadium, having scored a brace on debut in the Kiwis’ 30-16 victory over Australia here last October.
From there, however, the Australians began to dominate possession and scored three tries in eight minutes by exploiting the right side of New Zealand’s defense.
In the 13th minute, new cap Luke Rooney scored a try which was followed four minutes later by skipper Darren Lockyer’s well-timed pass which put full-back Anthony Minichiello in the clear. Rooney grabbed his second after a slick Australian back-line move.
Lockyer converted two of the tries to give the visitors a 16-6 lead but six minutes before half-time, a good kick by Webb gave New Zealand a superb field position and Louis Anderson took advantage by burrowing over from dummy half. Webb’s second conversion pulled the Kiwis to within four points at the turn.
New Zealand went close to leveling the score soon after the restart when David Kidwell was held up on the line, and with their confidence growing they tied the match eight minutes later when winger Francis Meli dived over from dummy half. The Kiwis had a gilt-edged chance to go ahead minutes later, when an offload by young lock Sonny Bill Williams was dropped by centre Nigel Vagana with the line open. With the clock ticking down, both sides missed field goal attempts. The teams will next play in London.
