QUEENSLAND MURRI 18 v NEW ZEALAND MAORI 48

The Queensland Murri Indigenous Rugby League team have a big week ahead of them to turn things around to be more competitive in the second test against the New Zealand Maori after being beaten 48- 18 in the first test at Davies Park Huntly in the weekend.
The Murri Rugby League team, sponsored by the Artie Beeston Foundation,showed plenty of flair and agility but struggled to match the structured play of the Maori side which boasted ...three NRL players including Auckland Warriors prop Sam Rapira and Tigers forward Bodene Thompson who stamped his class on the match by scoring three tries in a match where the NZ Maori scored eight tries to three.
Down 18 to 6 at halftime, Murri captain Steve Singleton tried valiantly from stand off to get his team back in the game and scored a try to bring the Murri back into contention at 18 - 12.
There other two tries were scored outwide by centre Thereon Pearson and wing Keith Walsh finished off a pearler of a try after lock Triston Lomley broke the Maori defence and offloaded to the winger with a reverse one handed pass when it looked like the play had broken down.
But the uncompromising NZ Maori forward pack were gaining yards too easy up the middle and local boy Kurt Kara originally from the Turangawaewae Rugby League club and who now plays for Newtown Jets in the New South Wales cup was impressive at dummy half and picked up a try to the delight of his whanau. Bodene Thompson finished proceedings on the hooter with a hat trick.
The second test is the feature match of the NZ Maori Rugby league tournament this Saturday at Puketewhero Park in Rotorua.