2021 RLWC Round 2, New Zealand 68 Jamaica 6 – Report

Matt Pritchard reviews New Zealand’s 68-6 thrashing of newcomers Jamaica in Hull on Saturday.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand 68
Tries: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 4 (3, 13, 18, 58), Peta Hiu (9), Marata Niukore (28), Sebastian Kris (36), Jeremy Marshall-King 2 (39, 54), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (43), Briton Nikora (52), Brandon Smith 2 (65, 71)
Goals: Kieran Foran 6 (15, 30, 39, 60, 66, 72), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (44, 53)

Jamaica 6
Tries: Ben Jones-Bishop (75)
Goals: Kieran Rush (77)

MATCH REPORT

New Zealand may have won the World Cup mismatch by scoring thirteen tries, but it would be Jamaica and Ben Jones-Bishop who would create history with their nation’s first World Cup try.

After going down 48-2 to Ireland last weekend, the Jamaican side broke through for their historic moment in the 75th minute when Sheffield Eagles fullback Jones-Bishop swooped to score off a mistake from Brandon Smith as a result of halfback Kieran Rush’s kick.

The crowd at Hull’s MKM Stadium roared to life after New Zealand looked like they would keep the newcomers scoreless after scoring the first 68 points of the match.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was superb for the Kiwis as they put on 34 first half points. While his first of three tries in the was set up by Joseph Manu, his break and kick inside for Jeremy Marshall-King on half-time was enterprising play as New Zealand crossed for their seventh try.

They would go on to record another six tries as Jamaica fatigued with simple tries going to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Briton Nikora, Jeremy Marshall-King and Watene-Zelezniak crossing for his fourth in the first twenty minutes of the half. Two dummy-half efforts from Smith completed the Kiwis scoring for the evening.

New Zealand can fine tune their quarter-final preparations at Leeds on Friday night when they take on Ireland, while Jamaica will be hopeful of more points when they face Lebanon at Leigh on Sunday.

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