PERTH, Scotland - New Zealand swept to a 20-3 half-time lead over Scotland A in their tour rugby match at McDiarmid Park in Perth this morning (NZ time).
New Zealand, who beat Ireland A 43-30 in the tour opener in Belfast last Tuesday before beating Ireland 40-29 last weekend, took 12
minutes to score.
Halfback Mark Robinson scored the opening try when he went over near the goalposts after a break by left wing Caleb Ralph, which was carried on by second five-eighth Pita Alatini.
Ralph scored himself in the 27th minute, put away by blindside flanker Jerry Collins, who had knocked two Scots tacklers flying in a burst down the short side.
Fullback Ben Blair converted both tries for a 14-0 lead, and added penalties in the 31st and 37th minutes.
Scotland A captain Duncan Hodge put his team on the board with a penalty on the tick of halftime.
Otago utility back Brendan Laney saw little ball in his international debut at fullback for Scotland A.
He did not touch the ball until 13 minutes into the match as Scotland A found a range of ways to lose possession
Blair's perfect goalkicking record on tour lasted just three minutes, when he missed a 38m penalty.
Seven minutes later he missed again from the same distance. Blair had landed nine from nine against Ireland A.
Scotland A, who beat Tonga and Argentina in their last two games, fielded five players who had won test caps, with Hodge having played 22 games for Scotland.
The match, at premier soccer club St Johnstone's home ground, was played on a perfect pitch in front of a crowd estimated at 4000, the smallest on tour.
New Zealand beat Scotland A 20-9 the last time the sides met, at Glasgow in 1993.
All Blacks wing Jonah Lomu was replaced on the reserve bench by Doug Howlett, after yesterday filming an edition of This is Your Life.
Lomu flew to London after training yesterday, and rejoined the tourists this morning.
- NZPA
