Suncorp Australian Schoolboys win first game in New Zealand

The Suncorp Australian Schoolboys, seen here in action against Tonga, have won their first tour match in New Zealand.

The Suncorp Australian Schoolboys have opened the New Zealand leg of their Pacific tour with a 51-15 victory over Wairarapa Bush Schools in Masterton.

After two victories in Tonga, the Australians stretched their unbeaten record to three with a nine-try disposal of the locals under cloudless skies.

Wairarapa Bush opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the 15th minute and their early scrambling defence held out the Australians until the 18th minute when winger Kenneth Robertson, on debut, crossed for the first of his two tries.

A further three tries, including a double to halfback and captain Mark Swanepoel, had the Australians ahead 24-3 at the break.

Swanepoel earned man of the match honours for his slick service at the base, and a brilliant individual effort to score the second of his first half tries.

After the interval, the Suncorp Australian Schoolboys collected a further five tries, including one for hooker Chris Edwards.

Like Robertson, Edwards was called into the squad earlier this week when injury and illness forced the tourists to send for reinforcements.

The Australians play their next match against Hurricanes Schools in Palmerston North on Tuesday and end the five-game tour with a Test against New Zealand Schools in New Plymouth next Friday.

Suncorp Australian Schoolboys 51 (Mark Swanepoel 2, Kenneth Robertson 2, Chris Edwards, Tim Bennetts, Dom Shipperley, Tyler Stevens, Michael McDougall tries; Robbie Coleman 2 cons, Colby Faingaa con) def Wairarapa Bush Schools 15 (Thomas Kinuku, Tua Tafa tries; Glen Waters con, pen goal).