The first match of the 2012 Commonwealth Navies Rugby Cup was a repeat of the 2009 opening fixture with the Royal Australian Navy taking on the Royal New Zealand Navy. At stake was not only the first points in the CNRC but also the Shelford-Stokes Shield.
Ryan Kerrisk, the Northcote and RNZN Navy centre, proved to be the star of the first match in the 2012 Commonwealth Navies Rugby Cup as the Kiwis produced a good all round display to win the opening match. Ryan was first of the score sheet and with his try being converted the New Zealanders had a 7-0 lead within the first 15 minutes. Within 5 minutes of the start of the second half Ryan had scored his and New Zealand third try and the Kiwis were comfortably in the lead 22 – 6 with the Aussies having only managed two penalties.
The New Zealanders seemed to have put the match beyond doubt when Sione Tonga repeated his try scoring feats seen against the President;s XV in 2009 with the match’s fourth try. Though the Aussies clawed back some of the lost ground through Shoalhaven centre Dom Whittingham’s try, converted by flyhalf Sam Peters, if was only a temporary stutter as the New Zealanders continued their relentless pursuit of the opening victory. Further tries from Steve Winikerei, who started for the Commonwealth Barbarians in the 2009 invitational match, and Sam Dickey sealed the win.
Final Score 13-41
RAN – Tries – Dom Whitingham: Con – Sam Peters: Pens – Sam Peters (2)
RNZN – Tries – Ryan Kerrisk (3), Sione Tonga, Steve Winikerei, Sam Dickey: Con – Dane Edge (4): Pen – Dane Edge (1)
Royal Navy v Royal New Zealand Navy
The next match in the tournament is on Sunday where a win by New Zealand will rest the trophy from the Royal Navy for the first time ever. It is the same situation as 2009 when the match proved to be a brutal encounter with the Royal Navy eventually winning 16-10. Should be another classic encounter.
Leave a Reply