Bulldogs enforcers Sam Kasiano and Frank Pritchard have this morning helped New Zealand to a 42-24 victory over Samoa in their opening match of the World Cup at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.
Pritchard started the match in the back row alongside Sonny-Bill Williams and Simon Mannering whilst Kasiano started on the interchange bench before coming on as part of the front row rotation with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jesse Bromwich.
The Kiwis lead from start to finish in front of the 14,000 strong crowd but the win wasnt earned without hard work after the Samoans ran in four consecutive tries to put a scare through the Kiwi camp. The New Zealanders though were able to compose themselves and run in a further try to confirm victory.
The Kiwis now top Group B and will now look to their next opponents, France, who they will play in Avignon on Friday night (5.30am Saturday morning Australian time)
Samoa will be looking for their first victory when they play Papua New Guinea on Monday, 4 November at 8.00pm (6.30am Tuesday morning Australian time)
NEW ZEALAND (Vatuvei 3, mannering 2, Hoffman, Tuivasa-Sheck, Luke Tries; Johnson 5 Goals) def. SAMOA (Roberts, Leilua, Manumeasili, Matagai, A Winterstein; Milford 2 Goals)
Pritchard started the match in the back row alongside Sonny-Bill Williams and Simon Mannering whilst Kasiano started on the interchange bench before coming on as part of the front row rotation with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jesse Bromwich.
The Kiwis lead from start to finish in front of the 14,000 strong crowd but the win wasnt earned without hard work after the Samoans ran in four consecutive tries to put a scare through the Kiwi camp. The New Zealanders though were able to compose themselves and run in a further try to confirm victory.
The Kiwis now top Group B and will now look to their next opponents, France, who they will play in Avignon on Friday night (5.30am Saturday morning Australian time)
Samoa will be looking for their first victory when they play Papua New Guinea on Monday, 4 November at 8.00pm (6.30am Tuesday morning Australian time)
NEW ZEALAND (Vatuvei 3, mannering 2, Hoffman, Tuivasa-Sheck, Luke Tries; Johnson 5 Goals) def. SAMOA (Roberts, Leilua, Manumeasili, Matagai, A Winterstein; Milford 2 Goals)
