League: Kangaroos draw first blood against Kiwis

The Kiwis' David Kidwell takes on the Kangaroos. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Kangaroos 30 Kiwis 18

Australia's superior attacking skills saw them draw first blood in the Tri-Nations rugby league tournament, downing defending champions New Zealand 30-18 in Auckland tonight.

The match featured a first-half brawl and some big hits, but it was the Kangaroos more incisive ability with the ball that proved decisive.

The youthful Australian backline had built up as possibly their country's best in recent years and they showed their class, especially in the opening spell.

In the halves, skipper Darren Lockyer and halfback Jonathan Thurston continually put the Kiwis under pressure.

The New Zealanders, looking to turn around their big defeat in the Anzac test in May, had their moments but were hampered by a some costly errors.

The brawl that enlivened the good sized crowd of 17,887 happened midway through the opening spell, when Australia, up 12-6 through two tries to fullback Karmichael Hunt, had threatened to score again.

But centre Mark Gasnier's pass to winger Matt King went into touch. When King was bumped the ground as he was running though, he took exception and threw a punch at marker Manu Vatuvei as he got up.

That was the signal for players from both sides to run over.

Shortly after order was restored, Kiwi David Kidwell produced the tackle of the match when his shoulder charge left prop Willie Mason dazed and needing time to recover.

Mason had been notable pre-match for mouthing off as the Kiwis performed their haka.

It was the Kiwis who opened the scoring after six minutes through five-eighth Nigel Vagana, who forced himself over the line from dummy half despite the attention of three tacklers.

Vagana was given the benefit of the doubt by the two-man video refereeing team and he became New Zealand's most prolific tryscorer with his 18th try, putting him one ahead of Sean Hoppe.

The Kangaroos hit back with Hunt's quick double.

The first came after the Kiwis lost the ball while hot on attack and Thurston broke downfield.

A strong run to the line by centre Justin Hodges gave the Kangaroos the number to set Hunt up.

The Brisbane fullback was over again minutes later, thanks to a good short ball from Thurston that put him in a hole.

Thurston kicked both conversions and also added a penalty before the Kiwis paid for another mistake while deep in Australian territory.

A pass from halfback Stacey Jones went loose and Gasnier gathered and ran 80 metres, scoring despite a fine chase by lock Simon Mannering.

Up 20-6 at halftime, Australia seemed to have pulled further ahead early in the second spell, but winger Greg Inglis was called back for a shepherd.

The Kiwis then had a period of ascendancy and closed the margin through interchange back Jerome Ropati, who forced his way over under the posts.

But the Kangaroos re-established their cushion when lock Mark O'Meley barged over from a couple of metres.

They went further ahead when Inglis finished off a fine touchline move with a superb grounding in the corner.

For the Kiwis, winger Manu Vatuvei scored a late consolation try.

The two sides meet again in Melbourne next week.

Australian captain Darren Lockyer felt his team had a sound opening to the series.

"I thought we ground it out pretty well. I just thought the guys went pretty good -- Jonathan Thurston played well, Carmichael was good at the back and all the debutants played as well," he said.

"I know both teams will build on that (performance) and we can only get better, as will New Zealand."

Vagana said losing possession killed the Kiwis' chances.

"We coughed up the ball too much. We were always going to struggle and we've got a lot of work to do," he said.

"They got three tries off the back of three intercepts so if you take that into account the game was a bit closer than the scores indicated.

"But I still think we've got a good squad here and we've got six weeks to go yet in this tournament."

Teammate Brent Webb also pointed to the loss of possession as they key to their loss.

"I think we fell apart around the ruck and you can't give the Aussies that sort of room around the middle and they certainly took advantage of that," Webb said.

Australia 30 (Karmichael Hunt 2, Mark Gasnier, Mark O'Meley, Greg Inglis tries; Johnathan Thurston 5 goals)

New Zealand 18 (Nigel Vagana, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei tries; Stacey Jones 3 goals). Halftime: 20-6.

Referee: Ashley Klein. Crowd: 17,887.

- NZPA