The Junior Kangaroos have defeated the Junior Kiwis 38-26 in a thrilling Test at Win Jubilee Oval on Sunday afternoon, with young Eels Vai Toutai and Junior Paulo both scoring four-pointers for the Kangaroos.
Taking to the field in the searing heat straight after the Holden Kangaroos finished an open training session, the Parramatta Eels were well represented by Zach Dockar-Clay and Takai Moeakiola in the Kiwis jersey, and Joseph Ualesi alongside Junior Paulo and Vai Toutai in the green and gold.
But it it was the Junior Kiwis who came out fired up at Kogarah, performing a fierce pre-game Haka and being the first side to break a nine minute stalemate to open the scoring for the day.
Kurtis Rowe was the first on the board for the Kiwis, going over for two tries in quick succession, and his opposite number Dallin Watene Zelezniak soon joined him.
Patrick Mago opened the Kangaroos' account, while the Eels' own Vai Toutai added a second for the Junior Kangaroos, taking the halftime score to 20-10 in the Kiwis' favour.
The goal-kicking second-rower Bryce Cartwright was dominant for the Kangaroos in the early stages of the second half, but with the Eels' Zach Dockar-Clay stepping in to dummy-half off the bench, the Kiwis staged a run of attacking sets, eventually breaking through on the right edge courtsey of Raymond Faitala-Mariner for another four points.
The Kangaroos sparked a fight-back in the second forty minutes, as Eels front-rower Junior Paulo crossed the stripe and grounded the football for another blue-and-gold try on the board.
Barreling winger David Nofoaluma joined Paulo on the try-scorers list for the Kangaroos, taking the green and gold under-20s side to just a four-point deficit with twenty minutes to play.
With some confidence back in the Australian side, the Kangaroos sent in Patrick Mago for his second try of the afternoon, and continued belting the Kiwis defence with hard runs from forwards Junior Paulo, Joseph Ualesi and Cartwright.
A sailing cut-out pass to Vai Toutai let the winger draw in two defenders and get his arms free to offload to Dragons centre Charly Runciman and put the green and gold firmly in the lead 32-26 with just seven minutes to play.
A late runaway try for the Kiwis was denied for a forward pass, and with a final try to Mitch Cornish and one last conversion for Bryce Cartwright, the Kangaroos closed out the Test 38-26.
Junior Kangaroos - 38 (Tries: Mago 2, Toutai, Paulo, Nofoaluma, Runciman, Cornish. Cartwright: 5/7)
Taking to the field in the searing heat straight after the Holden Kangaroos finished an open training session, the Parramatta Eels were well represented by Zach Dockar-Clay and Takai Moeakiola in the Kiwis jersey, and Joseph Ualesi alongside Junior Paulo and Vai Toutai in the green and gold.
But it it was the Junior Kiwis who came out fired up at Kogarah, performing a fierce pre-game Haka and being the first side to break a nine minute stalemate to open the scoring for the day.
Kurtis Rowe was the first on the board for the Kiwis, going over for two tries in quick succession, and his opposite number Dallin Watene Zelezniak soon joined him.
Patrick Mago opened the Kangaroos' account, while the Eels' own Vai Toutai added a second for the Junior Kangaroos, taking the halftime score to 20-10 in the Kiwis' favour.
The goal-kicking second-rower Bryce Cartwright was dominant for the Kangaroos in the early stages of the second half, but with the Eels' Zach Dockar-Clay stepping in to dummy-half off the bench, the Kiwis staged a run of attacking sets, eventually breaking through on the right edge courtsey of Raymond Faitala-Mariner for another four points.
The Kangaroos sparked a fight-back in the second forty minutes, as Eels front-rower Junior Paulo crossed the stripe and grounded the football for another blue-and-gold try on the board.
Barreling winger David Nofoaluma joined Paulo on the try-scorers list for the Kangaroos, taking the green and gold under-20s side to just a four-point deficit with twenty minutes to play.
With some confidence back in the Australian side, the Kangaroos sent in Patrick Mago for his second try of the afternoon, and continued belting the Kiwis defence with hard runs from forwards Junior Paulo, Joseph Ualesi and Cartwright.
A sailing cut-out pass to Vai Toutai let the winger draw in two defenders and get his arms free to offload to Dragons centre Charly Runciman and put the green and gold firmly in the lead 32-26 with just seven minutes to play.
A late runaway try for the Kiwis was denied for a forward pass, and with a final try to Mitch Cornish and one last conversion for Bryce Cartwright, the Kangaroos closed out the Test 38-26.
