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| October 25, 2003 | Saturday | Sha’aban 28, 1424 |
New Zealand first to reach last 8
BRISBANE (Australia), Oct 24: New Zealand became the first team to reach the World Cup quarterfinals running in 13 tries to trounce Tonga 91-7 in a Pool D mismatch on Friday.
Nine different All Blacks scored tries with two apiece from Caleb Ralph, fellow winger Doug Howlett and fullback Mils Muliaina while Leon MacDonald scored 29 points. Tonga’s sole try came from Pierre Hola.
Ralph added a second try to his tally a minute into the second half spearing through the Tongan midfield and leaving a clutch of defenders in his wake.
Kees Meeuws then became the second front rower to score a try and the floodgates opened with a penalty try bringing up the 50 point mark.
Tonga put a temporary hold on the All Blacks fest as Hola intercepted Justin Marshall’s pass and ran it in under the posts to the biggest cheer of the night.
MacDonald brought the try tally into double figures against a Tongan side reduced to 14 after fullback Sila Va’enuku had been sin-binned and Muliaina added his second a minute later.
Doug Howlett was the next on the scoresheet as he deservedly got his first of the night, the son of a Tongan mother touched down and the faultless MacDonald converted.
The All Blacks took another 10 minutes to cross the try line but it was a beauty concocted by Howlett whose crossfield kick fell adeptly into Daniel Carter’s hands and he evaded two Tongan defenders to touch down under the posts.
Spencer converted as MacDonald received attention to a leg injury.
As the rain started falling the points started accumulating for the All Blacks as hooker Corey Flynn went over in the corner on an overlap for a try on his debut.
Ralph almost had a second but failed to put pressure on the ball only for the chasing Spencer behind him to dive in and ensure another five points, which MacDonald converted for 35-0 as the All Blacks started to run riot.
S. AFRICA rout Georgia
SYDNEY: An under-strength South Africa were forced to fight all the way for a 46-19 win over World Cup minnows Georgia here Friday, who cemented their position as tournament darlings with a gutsy performance.
South Africa’s win propelled to second in Pool C, level on points with Samoa — but it was the amateurs and part-timers of Georgia who had most to celebrate at the Sydney Football Stadium.—Agencies
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